Mets Struggle in Series Finale Against Phillies

Philadelphia – While summer officially kicked off on this road trip, the Mets seem to be stuck in a spring slump.

After ending a seven-game losing streak the previous night, manager Carlos Mendoza’s squad faltered again in the decisive game of the series against the Phillies, suffering a 7-1 defeat.

It was a surprise to see even reliable pitcher David Peterson struggle, as he was taken out after just four innings. He finished a tough trip with this lackluster performance at Citizens Bank Park.

During those four innings, Peterson allowed two home runs, digging the Mets into a five-run deficit that left them scrambling against lefty pitcher Jesús Luzardo. Unfortunately, they couldn’t replicate the power they showed the day before when they hit seven solo homers.

Francisco Lindor was the only bright spot for the Mets, hitting a home run that typically signals good fortune, as the team had previously won all 28 games where he homered.

On this road trip, the Mets could only manage a 1-5 record against both the Braves and the Phillies.

Now, they return to Queens to face the Braves again, hoping for a better outcome after being swept just last week.

This marked Peterson’s worst outing of the season, where he gave up five runs on four hits with four strikeouts. It was not only his briefest stint this season but also the highest number of runs he’s allowed.

His performance raised his ERA to 6.55, a stark contrast to the solid pitching they had in the earlier weeks of the season.

Compounding the issue, both Kodai Senga and Tyler Megill are currently on the injured list, so the rotation has taken a significant hit.

Peterson found himself in trouble in the fourth inning, facing ten batters and digging the Mets into a 5-0 hole.

Kyle Schwarber got the ball rolling with a home run, contributing to a Phillies lead. Otto Kemp also helped with two RBI singles following a Nick Castellanos double and a walk for JT Realmuto.

The inning was capped off with Edmundo Sosa’s three-run homer, marking the first time this season that Peterson had allowed more than one home run in a game, a streak that dates back to his debut start in Miami.

Up until this point in the season, he had only given up four homers total.

The Phillies also took advantage of the situation with two walks from Johann Rojas and a single from Trea Turner, before Peterson finally retired Schwarber to escape the frame.

As for Luzardo, he kept the Mets at bay, only allowing three hits in 6⅔ scoreless innings and striking out most of the batters he faced.

Tyler Zoober, making his debut in the seventh inning, let two runs slip through, further deepening the Mets’ woes.