Among the trio of Phillies players on that list of candidates was the man who took the mound on Saturday night against the New York Mets, a player almost everyone thought was on the way to a new team this time last month.
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Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left Sunday’s game against the Phillies in the bottom of the first inning after colliding with Tommy Joseph at first base.
Wilmer Flores pinch-ran for Cabrera and remained in the game at third base.
“Just the nature of the game”, Mets manager Terry Collins said.
“I think the energy we have right now is taking us back to last season”. The 24-year-old right-hander had struggled of late, allowing 19 runs and 25 hits over his previous 16 1/3 innings.
NY has dominated them the last 2 nights and they are looking for the sweep tomorrow afternoon.
“The desire, the motivation”, he explained.
“They are an aggressive lineup”, Hellickson said of the Mets, who have hit 50 home runs in their last 30 games at Citi Field. In eight games since his return, he has batted.355 with 4 home runs and 8 RBIs.
Of course that run also clinched their first NL East divisional title since 2006 and the Mets went on to the World Series and lost in five games to thee Kansas City Royals. The ballpark opened in 2009. He improved to 4-0 with a 1.03 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies.
“My slider’s been more consistent the last two times around”, Syndergaard said.
NY has taken 12 of its past 14 series with Philadelphia. He went 6.0 innings, allowing five runs, striking out seven and walking two. Kelly Johnson (pinch-hit grand slam off Michael Mariot) and Neil Walker hit long balls off Phillies relievers.
Saturday’s outburst gave them nine or more runs in three straight games for the first time since 2012.
“Bad pitching”, manager Pete Mackanin said.
David Price (13-8) won his fourth straight start, giving up two runs in six innings.
Hellickson didn’t have his good control, working at a painfully slow and deliberate pace for most of the night while nibbling at the edges.
“It looks like a completely different team”, Collins said.
Syndergaard walked two and struck out seven.
The Mets wreaked havoc on the rest of the league last August by piling on runs and blowing out inferior teams, and this past week lends reason to believe this team is hitting its stride. “That was just all reflex”.
“The confidence at the plate”, Cabrera said. The night before, Phillies pitcher Adam Morgan barely evaded serious injury when he ducked underneath Cespedes’ scorching liner up the middle. Fortunately for Rivera, he never left town Friday when he was optioned to the minors to make room for Walker, who came off the paternity leave list. NOTES: The Mets will promote RHP Rafael Montero from Double-A Binghamton to start Monday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins.
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A pair of young hurlers will square off with Vince Velasquez tossing ’em down for the Phillies while the Mets will counter with rookie Robert Gsellman.
