Philadelphia Phillies’ Carlos Ruiz, top, collides with New York Mets relief pitcher Erik Goeddel …
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NOTES: Mets OF Yoenis Cespedes, who missed the last two games before the All-Star break with a strained right quadriceps, did not start. “Usually the first couple of innings go pretty quick because you’re getting your rhythm back”.
The Mets are 5-24 this season in games where they don’t hit a home run.
The Mets hit a league-worst.213 with runners in scoring position in the first half, and two games post-All-Star break, they’re not looking much better, a flaw that was exposed yet again in a 4-2 loss to the Phillies Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.
What’s next: Logan Verrett will make his second start in Matt Harvey’s slot in the rotation. The 23-year-old Dominican looks to add to his torrid numbers in July (19-for-48, five homers, 13 RBIs) when he faces Sunday starter Jacob deGrom, against whom he is 0-for-3 in a small sample size.TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), CSN PhiladelphiaPITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (5-4, 2.61) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (2-2, 4.08) DeGrom recorded his second straight win after allowing two runs – both solo homers – in seven innings of a 4-2 victory over Miami on July 6.
Jeurys Familia, the last of five NY pitchers, worked a flawless ninth to post his 32nd save. Collins, who managed the NL All-Star team, didn’t call on his closer to pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star game. After going ideal through four innings and cruising through five, the upset of the night was Colon not making it out of the sixth inning. Cabrera threw wide of first baseman James Loney, allowing speedy Peter Bourjos to reach with one out. He threw only four pitches in the first inning and didn’t allow a baserunner through four frames.
Bourjos reached base because shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera made a throwing error to put the wheels in motion. That runner would later come around to score the go-ahead run for the Phillies when Hansel Robles gave up a hit to Maikel Franco.
“Colon’s tough, the ball moves both ways”, Pete Mackanin said.
“I felt really good, just got a little gassed there at the end”, Hellickson said. NY is 6-1 in Colon’s last seven starts, 4-1 in his last five outings versus a team with a losing record, and 8-2 in his last 10 starts that were made on Friday.
Trailing 4-0 the sixth inning, the home team showed some mental toughness in fighting back against Colon. “We’ve seen this guy has pitched enough good games for us as a starting pitcher to think he has good innings left in him. He knows what he’s doing, and he just kind of stifled us for a while there”.
Leading off the second inning, Howard opened the scoring by lining Verrett’s 1-1 slider deep into the seats in right-center field for his 13th homer of the season and the 370th career.
NY closed the gap with a three-run sixth, when Wright lost the strike zone.
Walker’s 16th homer matched his total from last season with the Pirates. The homer drew loud cheers from the large contingent of Mets fans, who made Citizens Bank Park sound more like Citi Field at times with their chants of “Let’s go Mets!”.
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New York Mets’ Juan Lagares, left, slides into Philadelphia Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp to score on a ball hit by Jose Reyes during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 15, 2016, in Philadelphia. Team officials say that’s the priority as the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline approaches, if for no other reason than to avoid burning out Reed and Familia.
