Offense stumbles against Manaea as Phillies fall to Mets originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
NEW YORK — The Phillies beat the Mets by 12 runs on Friday night to clinch a playoff spot.
There was no rush on the pitch during the final outing, there were no champagne showers – because the job was not done.
They want that division crown, a feat the club hasn’t achieved since 2011…but the Phillies will have to wait at least one more day.
With Ranger Suarez on the mound, the Phillies lost 6-3 Saturday at Citi Field.
Overall, the Phillies have failed to figure out Sean Manaea, even though it seemed possible early on with Kyle Schwarber.
His 900th career hit, an opposite-field hit, gave the Phillies the early lead. Schwarber added to his MLB record for leadoff home runs, which now stands at 15. It was Schwarber’s 36th long ball of the season.
“Anytime you can start a game with a point, it’s great,” Schwarber said. “It didn’t work out.”
The Phillies are now 13-2 this season when the left-hander leads off a game with a home run.
Since returning from the injured list on Aug. 24, Ranger Suarez hasn’t looked as healthy as the level he set for himself during the first half of the season. He allowed two second-inning home runs to Francisco Alvarez and Luisangel Acuna. It was Alvarez’s third home run against the Phillies in the last 10 days.
The Phillies lost in order for three straight innings, giving Suarez little time to recover. His velocity was high, but he didn’t have the control we’re used to.
“They gave a lot of our guys some good at-bats,” Thomson said in his office after the loss. “We’ve had 20 walks in three games, we can’t afford that. We’ve got to get a little better, get some better pitches in the zone.”
“I thought Ranger was better. I was encouraged.”
For a game like Saturday’s, which was just a few inches away, it didn’t do the job.
Nick Castellanos deserves credit for his fourth home run of the day. He tied the score in the fifth inning and the Phillies were able to take control for the second half of the game.
Suarez’s day ended after five innings, which is about the average he’s had per outing since returning to the rotation. He allowed five hits, but the only runs he allowed were two home runs.
The left-hander gave up three walks that day, but all three were to Pete Alonso. Oddly enough, all three walks came directly after three strikeouts by Mark Vientos.
Jose Ruiz’s effort in the sixth inning shouldn’t go unnoticed. After getting two quick outs, he walked Harrison Bader. Acuna, who had already done some damage in the top of the inning, popped up in shallow right field. Castellanos slid to try to catch him, but the ball bounced in front of him.
What could have been a problem turned into an opportunity for the Phillies when the ball sank into the stands, sending Bader back to third base.
Jose Iglesias knocked the ball back to Ruiz, who dove to retrieve it from his knees and throw it to Bryce Harper for the out.
Orion Kerkering snapped his 14-game scoring streak (his longest of the season) … by allowing three in the bottom of the seventh. Thomson said Kerkering has been as good as anyone as far as his relief arms go and that he “deserved to get one today.”
Jose Alvarado stepped in to secure the final out of the round, but by then the damage was done.
Luckily for the Phillies, they’ll have a chance to right their wrongs in the series finale on Sunday Night Baseball.
And while there are plenty of uncertainties in baseball, having Zack Wheeler on the mound is the best thing the Phillies can do as they try to clear the next hurdle.
In the season finale against the Mets, the Phillies ace will face his former team in an attempt to send his club back to Philadelphia with the division crown for the first time in 13 years.
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