Over seven innings, Chris Young gave the Mets a chance to win, but in just one inning the bullpen gave it away.
After Young’s departure prior to the eighth inning of yesterday’s 9-2 loss to the Phillies, the Mets bullpen allowed as many baserunners (five) and runs (three) in the next few minutes as the right-hander did in the previous two hours, helping turn a one-run game into a 6-2 deficit, then allowing three more runs in the ninth inning.
In five games against the Phillies at Citi Field this season, Mets relievers are 0-2 with a 13.14 ERA, allowing 18 earned runs over 12 1/3 innings.
“Just because their offense hasn’t necessarily done really well this year, they’re still a very difficult lineup to pitch to and you can’t discredit them for the way they bounced back in the game and put it to us at the end,” catcher Mike Nickeas said. “Sometimes you get burned late in the game after giving up the lead. That’s just a momentum shift.”
Miguel Batista opened the eighth inning and allowed a leadoff single to John Mayberry, then was removed for southpaw Tim Byrdak. After Mayberry advanced on a sacrifice bunt, Byrdak faced Jimmy Rollins, who was hitless in his previous 18 at-bats. The former MVP fell behind 1-2, but then smashed a ground-rule double, sending it deep into center field and out of the reach of a sprinting Andres Torres, giving the Phillies a 4-2 lead.
It was the first run allowed by the lefty after seven scoreless appearances, spanning 4 2/3 innings.
“He battled,” Byrdak said. “He fouled off a really good breaking ball at 3-2. I’m trying to go for a backdoor one and he put a good swing on it.”
After facing two more batters, Byrdak made way for Jeremy Hefner, who had allowed one hit and no runs in his past four outings, over 4 1/3 innings. However, the 26-year-old’s day started poorly and only got worse, beginning with consecutive RBI singles to Carlos Ruiz and Hunter Pence and ending with him being optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.
Hefner allowed two more hits in the ninth and then served up a two-run homer to Ty Wigginton.
“Obviously we didn’t hit the location we wanted,” Nickeas said. “He just missed a couple spots. That’s it. Just a couple minor mistakes and those guys did a nice job with it.”
Hefner threw 1 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three runs, increasing his ERA to 5.64.
Right-handed reliever Pedro Beato will fill his spot, getting recalled after going 3-2 with a 1.16 ERA in 16 games with the Bisons.