LONDON — Sean Manaea started off playing with ease, then all hell broke loose.
The Mets left-hander gave up a solo home run to Bryce Harper in the fourth inning Saturday that started a six-run Phillies run that forced Manaea out before the inning ended.
Manaea started off efficiently, allowing just one runner through the first 3 1/3 innings and getting a quick out before Harper hit a home run to right field.
“It was all a blur, but it went from there,” Manaea said after the Mets’ 7-2 loss at London Stadium.
It was the second straight poor performance from Manea, who gave up six runs, five earned, in 5 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks last Saturday.
On this day, Alec Bohm singled after Harper’s strong hit, Bryson Stott walked with two outs after Manaea led 0-2, and Starling Marte singled on Edmundo Sosa’s fly to right field to extend the inning.
Whit Merrifield followed with a three-run homer to eliminate Manaea and the Mets.
“A lot of stuff happened and we just couldn’t control it,” Manaea said.
“They’re a very good team and they never give you a break. They have the guys to make it hard for you and if you make any mistakes, they’ve got good swings. It’s a very tough lineup.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza tried to bring in Manaea for the inning, but the decision backfired as Cristian Pache doubled and Kyle Schwarber hit an RBI single.
Mendoza eventually brought in Sean Reid-Foley to pitch and ejected No. 10 hitter JT Realmuto from the batter’s box.
“[Manaea] “The first three innings were really good,” Mendoza said. “My fastball was especially live, I kept attacking, I hit the zone hard, and… [fourth] “He threw a pitch to Harper that inning, but then walked Stott on 0-2. To me, that was a great at-bat. He just couldn’t finish it off.”
