The New York Mets opened a new chapter Friday evening under interim manager Andy Green but were unable to halt their losing streak, falling 2-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. The defeat marked the Mets' seventh consecutive loss and dropped their record to 34-48, leaving them 14 games below .500 for the first time this season.
The managerial change came earlier Friday when the Mets dismissed Carlos Mendoza after a four-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs. Mendoza finished with a 206-199 record over two and a half seasons, including a 2024 NLCS appearance, but struggled in recent months with a .414 winning percentage over his final 174 games. Green, who had served as the Mets’ senior vice president of player development since 2023 and previously managed the San Diego Padres from 2016 to 2019, was named interim manager with plans to return to the front office after the season.
Friday's game featured a strong pitching performance from Phillies starter Zack Wheeler, who limited the Mets to one run over seven innings while striking out five and allowing just four hits and one walk. Wheeler, a former Met who is recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, improved to 8-1 on the season with a 2.03 ERA and now boasts a 3.23 ERA over 19 career starts against his former team.
The Mets’ left-hander Zach Thornton, making only his second major league start after being called up from Triple-A Syracuse, gave the Mets six innings of work, surrendering a run on five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. After allowing three straight hits in the first inning, Thornton settled in and escaped further damage.
However, the Mets’ offense was stifled for most of the game. They managed just five hits overall and were held scoreless over the final five innings. Their lone run came in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Jared Young, which tied the game at 1-1.
A pivotal moment occurred early in the bottom of the first when Phillies center fielder Derek Hill made a remarkable leaping catch at the right-center field wall to rob Mets slugger Juan Soto of a two-run home run. Both teams acknowledged the significance of the play, with Soto describing it as an “unbelievable catch.”
The Phillies regained the lead in the seventh inning against Mets reliever Huascar Brazobán, who had entered in relief of Thornton. Brazobán allowed an RBI single to Trae Turner, following a walk and hits by Hill and Bryson Stott, marking his first run allowed in eight appearances this season.
Green expressed satisfaction with the Mets’ energy and effort despite the loss but acknowledged the challenge of winning with limited offensive production. The team’s offensive struggles have been a recurring issue, as this game marked the fifth time during their current losing streak that they scored three runs or fewer.
Looking ahead, Green has yet to decide on the Mets' pitching rotation, with Christian Scott set to return from the injured list and Thornton’s spot uncertain. The Mets continue to search for solutions amid their difficult start to the season as they try to regain momentum under new leadership.