The New York Mets let another opportunity slip away Sunday afternoon, falling 5-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field after stranding 14 runners and going just 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position. The loss sent the Mets to 35-49 as they closed out another disappointing series.
After Cionel PĂ©rez opened with a scoreless first inning, Tobias Myers took over and kept Philadelphia quiet through the second before running into trouble in the third. The right-hander surrendered three runs on four hits as the Phillies built an early 3-0 advantage while continuing to stretch out for a possible rotation role.
Kodai Senga made his first career relief appearance and helped stabilize the game, tossing five innings while allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts. He escaped a major jam in the sixth by stranding runners at second and third with no outs, but Kyle Schwarber’s two-run homer in the seventh erased New York’s brief lead.
The Mets climbed back into the game in the middle innings. Carson Benge drove in the club’s first run with an RBI single in the fifth before A.J. Ewing launched a two-run pinch-hit homer in the sixth, the first pinch-hit hit of his career, to tie the game. Later in the inning, Benge delivered again with a run-scoring fielder’s choice to give New York a 4-3 lead.
Yankees lose third straight to Red Sox That advantage didn’t last, and the Mets missed their best chance to answer in the eighth when Orion Kerkering walked the bases loaded before retiring Ronny Mauricio and Francisco Alvarez to escape the threat.
The Mets begin a three-game road series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday at 7:07 p.m. Sean Manaea is expected to start for New York against Trey Yesavage.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.