Categories: 2020 Postgame Recaps

Defensive miscues, offensive struggles lead to blowout loss against Mets

Aaron Nola struggled on Sunday. (Ian D’Andrea)

FINAL: Mets 14, Phillies 1

One day after their five-game winning streak was broken, the Philadelphia Phillies struggles continued at the plate as they dropped their second consecutive game to the Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets.

Aaron Nola did not have his best stuff and was hurt by defensive miscues as the Mets scored three unearned runs against him. Meanwhile, the Phillies failed to get anything going against deGrom outside of an Andrew Knapp home run.

After Nola exited, the Mets scored another eight runs against the Phillies bullpen and gave the Phillies their worst loss of 2020.

The Phillies are now 19-17 on the season, and hold just a half-game lead over the Miami Marlins for the second playoff spot in the NL East.

Top Plays

The Mets got on the board first. In the bottom of the first inning, Brandon Nimmo was thrown out trying to steal second after getting on base to start the frame, but a double by Michael Conforto followed by a double by Domonic Smith that was misplayed by Adam Haseley gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.
The Phillies tied things up in the top of the second, as Andrew Knapp stayed scorching hot with a home run off of deGrom

The game did not stay tied for long, though. Pete Alonso crushed a home run into the seats to help the Mets regain the lead.

The Mets added to their lead in the fourth. Aided by a fielding error in a failed run-down by Alec Bohm, the Mets loaded the bases with just one out. Nola then struck out Wilson Ramos but gave up a two-run single to Andres Gimenez that gave the Mets a 4-1 lead.
In the fifth inning, the Mets made it 5-1 after Conforto doubled and scored when Robinson Cano reached on an error by Rhys Hoskins.
The Mets chased Nola from the game in the sixth inning after Jeff McNeil hit a solo home run. Nola stayed in to strike out Ramos, but subsequently exited in favor of Heath Hembree.

Hembree served up a solo home run to Brandon Nimmo, and the Mets increased their lead to 7-1.

After Knapp’s home run, the Phillies managed just three baserunners against deGrom over the next five innings.
Mauricio Llovera made his major league debut in the bottom of the seventh inning. He allowed the Mets to load the bases with one out but pitched out of the jam.
In the eighth, however, the Mets got to Llovera. After loading the bases on singles by Nimmo and Conforto and a walk by Amed Rosario, Smith hit his third double of the day to make it 9-1 Mets.

Blake Parker came in to relieve Llovera and gave up a ground-rule double to Luis Guillermo followed by a home run to Alonso, and the Mets lead became 13-1.
Wilson Ramos hit an opposite-field solo home run to cap off the seven-run eighth inning for the Mets.

Chasen Shreve retired the side in the ninth inning to finish the game.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Aaron Nola: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 2 HR, 92 pitches

It was a tough day for Nola, who was coming off his best outing of the season. He was certainly hurt by the defense behind him, but also clearly did not have his best stuff. Nola allowed six extra-base hits for just the second time of his career, and falls to 4-3 on the season.

Jacob deGrom: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 K, 108 pitches

Andrew Knapp’s second inning home run was the lone blemish for deGrom, who dominated the Phillies all afternoon. They managed just three hits against him on the day, and never had more than one baserunner on at any point.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Pete Alonso

The Mets had a great offensive day, scoring seven runs and notching 12 extra-base hits. Three of those hits came off the bat of Alonso, who broke the early tie with a solo home run and added another one in the eighth inning to cap off the offensive display. Alonso struggled to start the season, but has started to heat up of late.

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