Mets Show the Phillies the Brooms

Coming off the last game with the Braves, the Phillies needed to get back in the winning ways quickly. Facing off against their rivals in the New York Mets, this series always means more. Phillies have struggled with runners in scoring position, but this series would not be decided by that stat. Prior to this series, the Phillies have lost six straight series against the Mets. Unfortunately, the Mets show the Phillies the brooms in a series sweep.

One Loss

In game one of the series, it was Ranger Suarez against the Japanese upstart, Senga. Senga is technically a rookie this year at the young age of 30 years old. Senga comes to the majors with a long resume from the Japanese professional baseball league. Being a part of five championships and him being one of the best pitchers in Japan.

Clutch Casty Catch pic.twitter.com/gQMl8Uuad1
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 31, 2023

Senga is a pitcher that can blow you away with a fastball that can reach up to 98 mph. Along with a deceptive pitch called the Ghost Forkball. Senga would use that forkball to strike many batters out. Up until the bottom of the fourth inning, both pitchers had lights-out stuff, but the Mets would strike first with a solo home run by Lindor. The only other mistake that Phillies’ pitching would have in this game would be in the bottom of the seventh inning when Escobar hit an RBI single. Both pitchers kept the opposing team’s offense off-balance. Senga had seven strikeouts in the game, with five of them being by the ghost forkball. The Phillies had no runners in scoring position the whole game, which hasn’t been done since 2016.

Two Loss

In game two, instead of the Phillies dealing with a ghost forkball, they were dealing with a ghost from their past in Carlos Carasco. Carasco would face off against Aaron Nola, and despite Nola having lost his last five starts against the Mets, he never got much run support in those games. Well, the Phillies would give Nola a lead in this game, but it wouldn’t last very long. In the top of the third inning, Sosa launched a solo home run that barely got out of the yard. Then the Mets would respond in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run by Canha. Canha would strike for more runs in the very next inning by hitting a two-run single to put the Mets up 4-1. That would be your final score, and the Phillies would only have one runner in scoring position the whole game.

who loves Sosa? #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/0DbwZ4H2fF
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 31, 2023

SWEEP!!!

In game three, the Phillies would try to scrap out a victory. They would be going up against Mighty Max, and the Phillies would be sending Walker to the mound. Scherzer would be coming into this game, having gone 15-6 against the Phillies. The Phillies knew that they would have to get some runs early in the game, and that’s exactly what they did.

#Phillies are characterizing Alec Bohm’s left hamstring strain as “very mild,” according to Rob Thomson. But team wants to prevent it from lingering or getting worse. Drew Ellis will play 1B vs. lefties; Kody Clemens vs. righties.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) June 1, 2023

In the top of the first inning, with Turner and Harper on base, the double steal was on. Not only was the double steal successful, but due to a throwing error by the young Mets catcher Turner was able to score. Soon after, Nicky bats would send a deep fly ball out into the outfield for a sacrifice fly and RBI. In the bottom of the third inning, the Mets would get on the board with McNiel hitting an RBI single. But the Mets weren’t done in that inning. The same player that gave the Mets all of their offense in the game before would come through once again in a big way. Canha would hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third. The Mets would tack on another run in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the final score would be Mets 4 and Phillies 2.

This series was a big disappointment in many ways. First, the Phillies have yet to prove that they can have a sustainable offense throughout a series. Second, their situational hitting is non-existent. The only bright spot in this series is that the starting pitching wasn’t the reason for the Phillies losing this series. Mets show the Phillies the brooms hurts more than others.

Leading into the final series of this ten-game road trip, the Phillies need to sweep the Nationals just to break 500 on this road trip. This should have been a road trip that the Phillies should have come out of it with at least 7 wins. It’s time for the stars on this team to take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves, if this team misses the playoffs this season, what does it mean for this team going forward? It’s time to rally, it’s June, and that means it’s hitting season, hopefully.