Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Phillies, Nola can’t shake struggles against Mets

Aaron Nola was the losing pitcher in Wednesday’s loss against the Mets. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire)

NEW YORK — There were two images from Wednesday’s game that were sadly emblematic of the Phillies’ disappointing start to the season.

In the fifth inning, Kody Clemens hit a single to right against starter Carlos Carrasco. Edmundo Sosa, who hit a ground-rule home run in the third, scorched another ball, but he lined it straight to the shortstop. Clemens was steps away from the second base bag when the ball landed in Francisco Lindor’s glove.

In the eighth, Bryce Harper faced the tough lefty Brooks Raley with the bases empty and no outs. He swung at the first pitch and paused the at-bat to slouch over to deal with a “stinger.” Rob Thomson and a trainer came up the stairs, but they weren’t needed. It initially appeared that Harper tweaked something, but it was nothing more than a zinging bat. Harper continued, but his swing looked uncomfortable. He struck out easily to begin the top of the eighth.

Harper’s fine. Thomson said he will be in the lineup tomorrow, but the Phillies lineup is already in a bad place. Losing Harper again would have been disastrous.

The Phillies had nine hits. Eight of them came from the left-handed batters in the lineup. Sosa, whose home run was the only hit from a right-handed batter, was the only run that came around to score. The Phillies left nine men on base and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

When asked earlier today, Thomson was as adamant as he’s ever been this season. The Phillies are going to score runs.

“I know they will. I know they will. It’s just a matter of time. It could be tonight, tomorrow or next week, but at some point, they’re gonna hit.”

It was not tonight. The Phillies dropped the second game of a crucial three-game set against the rival Mets on Wednesday 4-1. They are now 25-30 through 55 games.

The offense is reeling. They have scored only seven runs over the last four games. When you think it’s bad, it only gets worse.

“I think everyone is frustrated and it’s a matter of believing in ourselves and what we’re capable of and playing better and getting the ball rolling,” Trea Turner said. “I know we talk about it nonstop, but it’s kind of like what comes first, having fun or playing better or both, that type of deal. Just trying to find our stride. We know it’s there. We know it’s gonna come, but we want to get this thing started. We want to play better and I think it’s just more frustration than anything else.”

Not Nola’s Night

Nola’s 12th start of the season got off to a strange start.

He retired the first five batters all on pop ups and came into the third with no hits and no walks on his line. He began the inning with a four-pitch walk to Daniel Vogelbach and gave up a two-run shot on a cut fastball in the middle of the plate to Mark Canha, who drove in all four of New York’s runs.

It was his 12th home run allowed this season. He only gave up 19 in 2022.

Poorly executed pitches are a theme in Nola’s bad start. What’s different this year are his struggles to stay in the zone.

“I’m just getting behind guys, just walking guys. That’s the main thing,” Nola said. “Not getting ahead, not getting the first-pitch strike over and too many walks.”

Nola was the best in all of baseball at commanding the strike zone last year. His 8.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio was the best among qualified starters in 2022. That number is down to 4.20 in 2023.

He now has a 4.70 ERA in 2023.