Mets drop third straight to Phillies, losing blowout in Joey Lucchesi's season debut
Mets' Joey Lucchesi pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Matt Slocum
PHILADELPHIA — If this weeklong stretch of schedule against two of the best teams in the National League, both from the Mets’ division, is way in any way a test, they have decisively failed.
The Mets suffered another loss, 10-5, to the Phillies on Wednesday. With one game to go in these consecutive series against Atlanta and Philadelphia, the Mets are 1-5 — the lone win a walk-off over the weekend.
This one was uglier than the rest by virtue of its lopsidedness (third blowout loss of the season and first since April 21) and its sloppiness (two rulebook errors, several more misplays, generally ineffective pitching). The Mets jumped out to a one-run lead in the first and third innings, both times via unearned runs, but lefthander Joey Lucchesi gave it back and then some.
The Mets have lost 15 of their past 22 games.
“We got work to do,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “That’s the messaging to the players. We’re going through a rough stretch right now. We didn’t play a good game today. Or a clean game. It’s going to happen at times. But understanding that us as a coaching staff, our job is to continue to work with these guys and help them get through it. And we will.
“We’re playing good teams. But one day it’s the offense, one day it’s [something else]. We’re just not clicking right now. The free bases or extra bases, when you’re playing good teams, they’re going to make you pay for it. And this is something we will continue to address. We gotta get better.”
Approximately one-quarter of the way through the season, the Mets (19-23) are 11 games behind the first-place Phillies - who have the best record in the majors at 31-13 - in the NL East standings. After reaching the NL Championship Series each of the past two Octobers — winning once — they seem even better this time around.
“They’re the same team they have been in the past — a good team,” said Jeff McNeil, who was fine after fouling a pitch hard off his left knee. “They take really good at-bats, they have a good approach and their pitching, especially the frontline starters, is pretty good.”
In his season debut, Lucchesi lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up five runs, five hits and four walks. He struck out two. Phillies lefthander Ranger Suarez (1.37 ERA) allowed a pair of unearned runs in five otherwise effective innings.
Although he did well early, Lucchesi unraveled in a hurry in the bottom of the fifth, when six consecutive batters reached base to open the inning. Three of those came via walks, when the Phillies — in Mendoza’s view — managed to take pitches just outside the strike zone after swinging at such offerings early in the game. When Lucchesi answered by throwing more strikes, the Phillies hit him.
Lucchesi’s bases-loaded walk of Kyle Schwarber forced in the tying run. The Mets recorded an out only when J.T. Realmuto made an ill-advised attempt to score from first on Bryce Harper’s two-run double.
“I felt the same, I felt calm even when things weren’t going my way,” Lucchesi said. “They were being more patient.”
Lucchesi pitched on a day’s notice in place of Adrian Houser, who was scratched from the start because he warmed up in the bullpen on Tuesday (but wound up pitching two innings of relief behind Lucchesi).
Also returning to the majors, Mark Vientos went 2-for-4 with an RBI double. At third base, he flubbed a potential double-play ground ball, turning it into an RBI forceout.
“His at-bats were good,” Mendoza said. “That ball that he dropped, he was able to recover and get an out. I thought he played a really good game.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
