Though Jason Vargas had a pretty solid outing, the Mets couldn't muster any offense against Vince Velasquez in a 6-0 shutout at Citi Field on Wednesday night. >> Box score
Six things to know about Wednesday's game...
1) Vargas didn't go deep in this one, but he did manage to only allow one run over his 4.2-inning start. He allowed three hits and walked two while striking out four. The Mets are sticking with Vargas as their fifth starter, and it shows as Gio Gonzalez went to the Brewers on Wednesday. This is an encouraging outing that they are making the right choice.
2) The only Met to really do anything at the plate was Robinson Cano, who had a 3-for-3 night to raise his average to .272 on the season. Unfortunately those hits didn't come with runners in scoring position, as the Mets went 0-for-6 in that category.
3) After Seth Lugo strung together two scoreless innings after Vargas left the game, Robert Gsellman didn't have the same fate. The game was broken open under his watch, with three earned coming across on five hits in the eighth inning to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Rhys Hoskins got his revenge on Jacob Rhame with a two-run homer to left. Mets fans will recall Rhame throwing behind and at the head of Hoskins last night, something the Phillies weren't too fond of. Well, Hoskins' home run trot was 34 seconds long...
4) Bryce Harper definitely wants to leave Citi Field. First, he was ejected from the opening game of the series, and tonight, he struck out three times. Two of them came at the hand of Vargas, who many would bet Harper would get the better of.
5) As mentioned before, Velasquez had a solid outing, pitching to the tune of no runs on three hits with six strikeouts and three walks over five innings. The Phillies' bullpen kept the shutout alive between four relievers. Juan Nicasio closed it out in the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning.
6) On a small final note, Brandon Nimmo made an appearance tonight after feeling better from his left oblique "twinge." He came in for Juan Lagares, and went 0-for-2 in his plate appearances.
Highlights
Video: Michael Conforto makes amazing catch on the run
What's next
The Mets take a one-day break before the Brewers come to town on Friday to start a three-game series at Citi Field at 7:10 p.m. New York expects Jacob deGrom to come off the IL to make the start against Chase Anderson.