The New York Mets fell to the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 at Citi Field on Sunday, marking their eighth loss in nine games and dropping their record to 35-49. The defeat also extended a losing streak to four consecutive series, continuing the team’s struggles under interim manager Andy Green.
Despite multiple scoring opportunities, the Mets were hampered by timely pitching from the Phillies, leaving 14 runners on base and going 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Green acknowledged the team’s inability to capitalize, saying, “We just didn’t bring guys home today.” The Mets’ offensive struggles were particularly pronounced given the absence of shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is gradually being reintroduced following a two-month stint on the injured list with a calf strain. Lindor, who had played only three rehab games and had not appeared in back-to-back contests until the weekend, was given the day off as Green opted to rest him fully.
The lineup that day featured cleanup hitter Eric Wagaman and hitters with modest recent on-base plus slugging (OPS) marks—Mark Vientos (.644), Tyrone Taylor (.530), Brett Baty (.586), and Luis Torrens (.569)—which contributed to the inconsistent offensive output. Green noted the challenge of managing player availability under these circumstances, adding, “He [Lindor] was tempting,” but emphasized the priority of rest.
On the pitching side, the Mets faced depleted options, forcing the team into a makeshift bullpen game. Key relievers Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Huascar Brazobán, and A.J. Minter had recently logged extensive innings, limiting their availability. Kodai Senga, who started and lasted five innings, was called upon to provide length out of the bullpen. Senga ultimately conceded a pivotal two-run homer to Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber in the seventh inning. Green indicated that without additional arms, the decision to leave Senga in was unavoidable.
The Mets’ best chance to rally appeared in the eighth inning when Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering walked the bases loaded with one out. However, Ronny Mauricio and Francisco Alvarez failed to capitalize, with Mauricio popping out and Alvarez striking out to end the threat amid audible frustration from the crowd.
Offensively, highlights included Carson Benge’s RBI single in the fifth inning against Jesús Luzardo and an impressive pinch-hit two-run homer by A.J. Ewing in the sixth to tie the game. Following a subsequent walk and single, a fielder’s choice driven by Benge gave the Mets a brief 4-3 lead. Yet, the team was unable to maintain the advantage, ultimately succumbing to the Phillies’ late surge.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Green expressed a sense of missed opportunity, noting the inconsistent execution at critical moments. Ewing, one of the few bright spots on a struggling squad, acknowledged the difficulty of the season moving forward, describing it simply as “baseball” and “hard.”
With the trade deadline approaching and the team’s record deep in the cellar, the Mets face significant challenges in reversing their fortunes in the months ahead.