Mets Bullpen Implodes, Fall to Phillies

The Mets bullpen issues have carried over into the 2022 season. For the second consecutive game, New York carried a lead into the bottom of the eighth inning, and failed to hold a lead in the late stages. Last night had to be the most painful, as the Amazin’s watched a 4-0 lead turn into an ugly 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

For six innings, the combination of Taijuan Walker and David Peterson held the Phils scoreless on three hits. Peterson had to come in for Walker, who lasted only two innings after leaving the game with a right should irritation. Peterson was spotless in four innings of relief, allowing those three hits ,while striking out a trio and walking a pair.

The Mets scratched out three of their four runs in the top of the first inning. A RBI ground out by Pete Alonso followed by RBI singles by Eduardo Escobar and Matt Canha pushed New York to the early lead. The Amazin’s would tack on with a run in the seventh inning on a RBI single by Francisco Lindor.

However, come the eighth inning the wheels came off the Mets train to a 4-1 start.

First, Trevor May lost Alec Bohm (more on him in a moment) to a walk, and had to leave the game with an apparent injury after tossing a ball on the 3-2 count to Bohm. Ex-Yankee Joely Rodriguez struggled in relief of May. He served up a single to Johan Carmargo, a RBI Fielder’s Choice to Kyle Schwarber, and a two-run bomb to J.T. Realmuto that cut the Mets lead down to 4-3.

Buck Showalter went back to the bullpen to bring in Seth Lugo to try to stymie the Phillies rally, but to no avail. Lugo walked Nick Castellanos, and served up a game-tying double to Rhys Hoskins. Finally ex-Yankee Didi Gregorius lined a double to right, scoring Hoskins to give the Phillies a stunning 5-4 lead. A lead they would not relinquish.

And speaking of Alec Bohm, the Phillies third baseman committed three errors early in the game and was hearing a mock cheer after finally recording an out. He was seen mouthing “I hate this (bleeping) place,” as he walked off the field. Bohm later apologized.