Maikel Franco had a big game Monday night. (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire)
Whether it was Brad Miller’s bamboo plant or the Phillies changing their Twitter profile picture to a shamrock, something was different for the Philadelphia Phillies Monday. Granted, the Phillies welcomed the New York Mets to Citizens Bank Park this evening, and the Mets appear to be fighting with the Jets and Knicks for most dysfunctional organization in New York. But after looking lifeless Sunday, the Phillies snapped their seven-game losing streak in a major way Monday night.
The Mets wasted no time getting after Zach Eflin Monday evening, with both Michael Conforto and Todd Frazier driving in runs in the top of the first inning to give the Mets an early advantage.
But, after a non-existent offensive performance Sunday, the Phillies quickly responded to the Mets putting two on the board in the top of the first inning.
Jean Segura, who certainly hasn’t flown under the radar recently, hit his eighth home run to cut the Mets lead in half:
Jean Segura has two home runs in his last five games. pic.twitter.com/xLy8dD8mz3
— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) June 24, 2019
Entering this evening, Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper had just six combined home runs in June, the same amount that Scott Kingery has hit individually this month. Hoskins changed that in the bottom of the first, with a game-tying, 390-foot home run:
Rhys Hoskins now has four home runs in June. pic.twitter.com/VdDi6FypQH
— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) June 24, 2019
The Phillies would tack on a third run in the home half of the first inning, as Roman Quinn reached base on an infield hit, and a throwing error from Mets first baseman Pete Alonso bailed out an over-aggressive J.T. Realmuto, allowing him to score.
Harper didn’t homer Monday night, but he had two separate RBI doubles in the Phillies win, including one in the fourth inning that gave the Phillies a 5-4 lead. Harper now has 23 doubles in 2019, which is fourth in baseball.
While Steven Matz struggled mightily, Eflin had one of his worst games of the season, and allowed the Mets to retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Michael Conforto’s opposite-field home run traveled 414 feet and tied the game. Amed Rosario later tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly. That would be the final meaningful run that the Mets would score in the game, however.
The Phillies scored three in the bottom of the fifth inning, including a monster three-run home run from Maikel Franco. Franco got the green-light in a 3-0 count, and didn’t miss a mistake pitch, driving it 433 feet:
Maikel Franco was due… pic.twitter.com/JhqlNxvHRw
— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) June 25, 2019
From there, the Phillies didn’t look back.
An inning later, Franco added an RBI single as part of a four-run inning, one that extended the Phillies lead to six. Jay Bruce, who didn’t start Monday night, came off the bench in the sixth and hit his 21st home run of the season:
Jay Bruce only has one less home run than Mike Trout this season. pic.twitter.com/ncCpguougd
— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) June 25, 2019
Scott Kingery, who was one of four Phillies with three or more hits Monday, added on the 13th and final run in the bottom of the eighth, as he singled in Cesar Hernandez, who had three hits himself. The Mets did get a solo home run from Dominic Smith in the ninth inning, but ultimately Fernando Salas finished out the game, allowing the Phillies to snap their losing streak.
Monday was the first time that the Phillies scored 10 or more runs since May 29, when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 11-4. After that win, the Phillies were 33-22, and had a three-and-a-half game lead over the Atlanta Braves. Suffice to say, the Phillies aren’t 11 games over .500 after tonight’s win, nor are the even close to the National League East lead. But with how loud calls got for the Phillies to make a change to their coaching staff after being swept by the Marlins this past weekend, Monday night’s win was a pretty resounding response.
Tuesday, Jake Arrieta will get the ball for the Phillies in game two of a four-game set against the Mets, who have now lost six of 10.
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance
- Zach Eflin has been the Phillies best pitcher in 2019, and entered the evening with a stellar 2.83 ERA. However, his 4.02 FIP suggested that water was going to find its level, which may be what began to happen Monday. In five innings, Eflin allowed 11 hits, three of which were home runs, and six earned runs.
- It would be the understatement of the baseball season to say that Steven Matz has struggled at Citizens Bank Park. He gave up 10 hits and seven runs, while allowing three home runs Monday night. This was actually Matz’s best start in Philadelphia this season, as he didn’t record a single out in his start on April 16, when he allowed eight runs, six of which were earned. In total, Matz has a 27.00 ERA in two starts at Citizens Bank Park in 2019.
Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Maikel Franco
While Bryce Harper and Jean Segura both had excellent games, Franco was a welcome revelation Monday night. The 26-year-old third baseman entered the evening hitting just .147 in May, but he went 3-4 with a home run and RBI double. He did strike out in the bottom of the eighth, but that was on a called third strike that clearly wasn’t in the strike zone.
Next Game
- 7:05 p.m. ET
- Citizens Bank Park
- NBC Sports Philadelphia
- SportsRadio 94 WIP
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