The Mets left 12 runners on base and were hitless in scoring position, leading to Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Phillies. >> Box score
Seven things to know from Tuesday's game
1. Rick Porcello has had his fair share of early-game struggles this season, but he got off to a great start on Tuesday night. Porcello didn’t allow a first or second-inning run for the first time this season, keeping the Phillies shut down for the first three innings.
.jpg)
But the Phillies finally got to Porcello in the fourth. With the game still scoreless and two outs in the inning, Porcello walked Jean Segura and then allowed a sharp double to Scott Kingery to give the Phillies runners at second and third. After another walk to load the bases, Porcello allowed a two-run pinch-hit single to Adam Haseley, giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Michael Conforto then made a great grab in right field off a Roman Quinn line drive to escape the threat with only two runs scored.
2. Pete Alonso had a chance to give the Mets an early lead in the third inning. Following two base hits and a Robinson Cano walk, Alonso came up against Jake Arrieta with the bases loaded and two away, but he flew out harmless to center field to end the inning. Alonso went 0-for-4 and left five runners on base, seeing his average dip to .216.
3. Brandon Nimmo finally put the Mets on the board in the top of the fifth. Just after the Phillies had taken a 2-0 lead, Nimmo slammed an Arrieta slider deep into the seats in right field for his seventh home run of the season.
4. Porcello ran into more two-out trouble in the fifth. After an infield hit by Alec Bohm, Didi Gregorius launched a two-run home run to right field for his eighth homer of the season. Porcello went six innings, allowing four earned on six hits while striking out five.
5. In the top of the sixth, Arrieta allowed a pair of hits to Cano and Jeff McNeil before hitting Andres Gimenez with his 97th pitch of the night and immediately grabbed at the back of his right leg. Arrieta limped off the field, ending his night with the bases loaded and one out in the inning. But reliever Jojo Romero needed just one pitch to force a Wilson Ramos double play to end the inning.
6. Trailing 4-1 in the eighth, the Mets got their leadoff man on base for the fourth straight frame as Dominic Smith was hit by a pitch. A Kingery error later in the inning gave the Mets runners at second and third with two outs, but McNeil was tagged out heading to third on a slow roller from Gimenez to end the inning.
7. Edwin Diaz struck out the side in the eighth inning, lowering his ERA to 1.80. The Mets then put two men on base in the ninth against Hector Neris, but Smith struck out to end the game.
What's next
The Mets and Phillies continue their three-game on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Jacob deGrom will start for the Mets, while old friend Zack Wheeler goes for the Phillies.
Coverage on SNY begins at 6:30 p.m.