PELF DENIAL: Mike Pelfrey’s curveball helped him hold the Phillies at bay for six innings, but Manny Acosta (inset) and the Mets bullpen blew the win. (AP)
PHILADELPHIA — The Mets are making progress, but there is a long way to go. A little bit more of a killer instinct would work wonders for this team.
At least the Mets are in the game, and they nearly pulled off something they have never done in their history — sweeping their first series of the season against the Braves and Phillies.
The bullpen imploded in the seventh and eighth innings and an error by shortstop Ruben Tejada helped turn a 2-1 lead into a disappointing 8-2 loss yesterday to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Also, Jimmy Rollins’ single to right in the seventh, which keyed the two-run inning, dropped in front of range-challenged Lucas Duda, who needs to let it go defensively.
Still, the Mets are 6-3 after nine games, and after all the money woes of the offseason that is a good start.
METS PEN SQUANDERS SWEEP IN PHILLY
Following a troubled first inning with no fastball command that helped run up his pitch count, Mike Pelfrey found his groove because he used his curveball. The right-hander needs to understand how valuable that pitch can be for him and how it makes his fastball more effective.
Terry Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen have tried to convince Pelfrey the curve can be a huge help.
“I think it’s my fourth-best pitch,” Pelfrey said. “Do I have confidence in that for me in those big situations? I don’t want to get beat with my fourth best pitch, so that’s my thing on that. But it was good today.’’
Pelfrey may be able to keep his pitch count reasonable with the curve.
“Hopefully I can get through the whole game with 110 [pitches] instead of getting through the sixth with 110,’’ Pelfrey said.
The big right-hander could have started the seventh with the Mets leading 2-1 but he was at 99 pitches, and Collins elected to go to the bullpen. Ramon Ramirez would up with the double bogey of a blown save and loss. Manny Acosta followed and struggled. Bobby Parnell, who pitched three times in four games, was given the day off and that cost the Mets.
Pelfrey can put himself in a better position to put up an argument to stay in such a game instead of giving way to the bullpen with more economical pitching. Pelfrey is making progress, though, and that is an encouraging sign.
This day also marked Ike Davis’ first home run of the season, a two-run blast off Cole Hamels, his first home run since May 6, 2011. Davis is buried in a terrible slump, and the Mets desperately need his bat.
On the injury front, it always seems to be one step forward and one step back. The fickle finger of fate struck Jason Bay, who jammed his right ring finger Saturday and had to be scratched. David Wright, who is playing with a broken right pinkie, picked up two more hits and is batting .571.
The Mets are having success despite a myriad of issues. They simply could not figure out a way to finish yesterday.
“I think you have to keep it all in perspective,’’ Pelfrey noted. “If you would have came to us on Thursday or Friday and said, ‘Hey, you guys are going to take two out of three,’ I think we would have been happy with it. We’re disappointed we didn’t win all three, but we came here, played great, the bullpen had been unbelievable all year. Overall, it was a positive weekend.’’
The Mets have established that the starting pitching is better than anyone thought it would be. Pelfrey’s ERA after two starts is 3.09, R.A. Dickey sits at 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA, Jon Niese is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA and Johan Santana is at 0.90.
The Phighting Phils, though, were ripe to be swept because of their injury woes. The Mets let this one get away, but if their starting pitching continues to do well, Collins’ club will at least have a fighting chance.