Naturally, the Mets lost the game, too.
With a pall cast over the entire organization by the news Matt Harvey’s season is likely over and the ominous specter of possible Tommy John surgery putting his 2014 campaign in jeopardy, the Mets, despite a strong pitching effort by rookie Zack Wheeler, ran their losing streak to five games, falling to the Phillies and Cliff Lee, 2-1, at Citi Field.
So with three young starting arms — Harvey, Jeremy Hefner and Jenrry Mejia in the infirmary along with closer Bobby Parnell and All-Star third baseman David Wright — the Mets sent Wheeler to the mound.
And pretty much crossed their fingers and lit some candles.
Wheeler, who is on an innings limit of 175 to 180 innings, entered last night at 138 ¹/₃ innings through his work with Las Vegas and with the Mets. Given the loss of three starters in one week, the Mets will handle Wheeler with kid gloves. Lined with satin. Covered in velvet.
“I’d be very surprised if we exceed the limit that we previously put on Zack Wheeler,” GM Sandy Alderson said. “That doesn’t mean that there can’t be an injury between now and then. This is always a risk associated with major league pitching. There’s no guarantee of anything. That’s certainly not based on any science that will tell you if you don’t do this you’re safe. There’s no safe harbor here. But we’re doing what seems to be prudent in light of history and everything that we can determine.”
So in a nutshell, cross fingers, light candles.
Wheeler pitched well, threw 105 pitches and exited down, 2-1, with two out in the seventh after John Mayberry Jr. doubled into the left-field corner. Wheeler surrendered five hits and one walk while striking out seven. He fell to 6-3 with only his second defeat in 10 starts since a June 30 loss.
The Mets, swept in a three-game set by the Tigers and outscored 20-4 over the weekend, struck first against Lee. The Phillies, who have endured their own horror show in a season that saw Charlie Manuel fired and replaced by Ryne Sandburg as manager, certainly aided in the initial run.
Marlon Byrd led off the second against Lee (11-6) and lifted a fly toward right. Center fielder Roger Bernadina and Mayberry Jr., the right fielder, converged, got cozy close — and let the ball fall. Byrd, not exactly impersonating Usain Bolt, still wound up on second base. Andrew Brown, starting in left, singled to center scoring Byrd.
Wheeler worked perfect innings in the first, third, fifth and sixth. The fourth inning was the troublesome one.
With two out, Michael Young singled and Darin Ruf walked. Rookie Cody Asche then drove a 1-0 fastball deep to right and ended up with a 2-run triple.
Wheeler received a ovation from the crowd of 25,784 as he exited. Pedro Feliciano came on and struck out Lee to complete the seventh.
Again, the Mets offense was dormant much of the game against Lee, who allowed five hits and struck out seven in eight innings. From the third through the seventh innings, the Mets had just one runner, Byrd on via a fourth inning single. And he was wiped out in a double play. Jonathan Papelbon worked the ninth for the Phillies for his 22d save.
fred.kerber@nypost.com