PHILADELPHIA — It wasn’t the cleanest baseball game the Mets will play this year, but they at least overcame their bullpen headache, managing to leave their first road trip of the year on a high note.
Pete Alonso, Wednesday’s designated hitter for the Mets, had a banner day at the plate — one he enjoyed for the first time since his rookie season. His productive afternoon wound up being the difference for the club.
Alonso drove in five of the Mets' eight runs in the a 9-6 win over the Phillies on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park. He crushed a three-run home run in the sixth inning, giving the Mets a seven-run lead at the time, and went 3 for 5 with two doubles. Wednesday was the first time Alonso collected five or more RBIs since Aug. 15, 2019 in Atlanta.
Though it seemed like Alonso busted open the game, the Phillies cut the Mets' lead from 8-1 to 8-5 after a productive couple of innings against New York’s relievers. Sean Reid-Foley, Joely Rodriguez and Adam Ottavino combined to give up four earned runs on three hits and allowed three walks in the sixth and seventh.
So, the Mets’ seven-run lead diminished to a save situation, requiring their closer in a game he had no business entering just a few innings prior. Edwin Diaz allowed a leadoff home run to Bryce Harper in the ninth, but then he retired the side to shut the door on the Phillies for the second straight game.
Max Scherzer’s second start of the year was laborious, but he battled his way through five innings and limited the Phillies’ damage.
Scherzer walked Kyle Schwarber, Harper and Nick Castellanos in the first inning, putting himself in an early jam. But he managed to escape by striking out Jean Segura and inducing a groundout from Didi Gregorius. Though he settled down for the next two innings, his fourth inning was again a bit of a slog as he allowed a run on three hits.
But part of Scherzer’s speciality, and part of why he’s a once-in-a-generation pitcher, is his ability to prevent an inning from snowballing. So he dug deep, and grinded through his second outing of the way much the same way he did his first. Scherzer’s hamstring issue that materialized in spring training is not yet 100% behind him. But as a veteran pitcher, he understands how to pitch around a leg injury just as long as it isn’t affecting his arm strength.
Scherzer gave up five hits, struck out seven and issued three walks in his five innings, limiting the Phillies to one earned run.
