Categories: 2021 Postgame Recaps

Phillies collapse in the ninth inning, fall to Mets

Rhys Hoskins has struggled defensively in 2021. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Mets 4, Phillies 3

There was a story to be written about the success that Philadelphia Phillies rookie Nick Maton had against the New York Mets Saturday, driving in two runs, while facing Jacob deGrom and Edwin Díaz.

That story won’t come here, though, as a disastrous ninth inning that was started off by Rhys Hoskins’ second late-game defensive miscue in as many days kicked off a ninth inning where Héctor Neris was unable to close the door on a victory for the Phillies.

With the loss, the Phillies fall to 35-39, and are now 11 games under .500 on the road.

Sunday afternoon, the Phillies will look to rebound and leave Flushing with a split, as Joe Girardi will send former Met Zack Wheeler to the mound at Citi Field.

Top Plays

After Jacob deGrom set the Phillies down in order in the top of the first inning, Andrew McCutchen reached base with a one-out single in the second, one that deflected off of deGrom’s backside. Two batters later, Nick Maton singled into right field, giving the Phillies an early 1-0 lead:

The lead was fleeting, though. In the home half of the second, José Peraza doubled into left field, plating Dominic Smith and advancing James McCann to third base.
Fortunately for Zach Eflin, the Phillies were able to keep the second inning from turning into a big one for the Mets. After striking out Albert Almora Jr., deGrom grounded to first base. Rhys Hoskins fielded the ball and fired home, throwing the ball higher than he would have liked. Still, J.T. Realmuto was able to clean it up and tag out McCann to prevent the run from scoring. Eflin was able to get out of the inning by getting Luis Guillorme to fly out to McCutchen in left field.
Bryce Harper reached on an error by Francisco Lindor in the top of the fourth inning, and stole second and third base. However, the trio of Realmuto, McCutchen and Luke Williams was unable to bring him home.
Odúbel Herrera led off the top of the sixth inning with a double into right field, and was soon joined by Hoskins and Harper, with the former walking and the latter getting hit by a pitch. Realmuto flew out with the bases loaded, but not deep enough for Herrera to tag. However, McCutchen then hit a ball to center field, which was deep enough to bring Herrera home. The Phillies weren’t able to add any more runs, though, with Williams grounding back to deGrom to end the inning.
After staying in to run the bases, Harper exited in favor of Travis Jankowski in the bottom of the sixth inning:

Despite having him bat in the top of the seventh, Joe Girardi pulled Zach Eflin in the home half of the seventh, apparently preferring that Ranger Suárez face Jeff McNeil. Suárez did strike McNeil out, but then allowed a game-tying home run to Kevin Pillar, who pinch hit for Mets reliever Aaron Loup:

Mets closer Edwin Díaz came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning, with the game tied at 2. He started the inning by plunking McCutchen on the left arm. McCutchen then swiped second, his second stolen base of the game. Díaz threw a wild pitch on ball four to Williams, the next batter, which allowed McCutchen to advance to third base. Maton drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left field.
With José Alvarado unavailable, Girardi turned to Héctor Neris. The first batter that Neris faced, Travis Blankenhorn, reached safely on an error by Hoskins at first base. Quickly, the Mets loaded the bases up, with Billy McKinney working a walk and Pillar recording an infield single. Neris walked Guillorme, forcing in the tying run. After Neris struck out Francisco Lindor, Michael Conforto hit a ball deep enough to center field to score the winning run on a walk-off sacrifice fly.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Zach Eflin bounced back after an ugly start last weekend in San Francisco, going six innings and limiting the Mets to one run on five hits. Frankly, his removal after just six innings – he had only 82 pitches – was perplexing.
Jacob deGrom went six innings Saturday, allowing three hits and two earned runs, while throwing 88 pitches. As Phillies Nation‘s Nathan Ackerman noted, this was the first time in 2021 that deGrom has given up multiple earned runs in a start. Even still, the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner’s ERA sits at just 0.69.

Postgame Notes

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