The Mets have counted on one quality start after another during this surge into the lead for a wild-card berth, but Friday they received NQ (as in non-quality) and were NC (as in non-competitive).
David Peterson’s worst start of the season coupled with underwhelming relief ended the Mets’ winning streak at four games with a 12-2 loss to the Phillies before 41,474 at Citi Field.
Peterson ended the Mets’ streak of quality starts — defined as at least six innings pitched with three earned runs or fewer allowed — at eight by turning in a clunker.
The left-hander lasted only 3 ²/₃ innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts.
Peterson said he was “surprised” he was removed so early by manager Carlos Mendoza.
“But it was still a close game at that point and he wanted to make a move and that was his decision,” Peterson said. “All good and we’re on to the next one.”
Mendoza’s rationale for the early hook was basic: Peterson was getting hit.
“I thought the second time through [the lineup] they were putting together some really good at-bats,” Mendoza said. “They made some good adjustments and put the barrel on the ball and I thought I needed to be aggressive there and it didn’t work.”
Adam Ottavino, Huascar Brazoban and Danny Young had rough nights in relief.
Infielder Eddy Alvarez was enlisted to pitch the ninth and worked a scoreless inning, eliciting chants of “Ed-dy, Ed-dy” from the crowd.
The night wasn’t a complete disaster for Mendoza’s crew: Miami beat Atlanta, allowing the Mets to maintain their two-game lead over the Braves for the NL’s third wild card.
The Phillies clinched a postseason berth for a third straight year with Friday’s win.
A victory Saturday or Sunday would allow the Phillies to celebrate winning the NL East title before leaving Queens.
The Mets played a fifth straight game without Francisco Lindor, who is sidelined with lower back soreness. Lindor, who received a facet injection Thursday, participated in baseball activities pregame and said there’s been improvement in his back, but it’s not where he needs to be for a return.
“I still believe in what we have,” Lindor said, noting that the Mets scored 10 runs in three straight games before Friday. “And I want to be there.”
Jose Iglesias, batting leadoff during Lindor’s absence, continued his sizzling play with a homer leading off in the first. The blast extended Iglesias’ hitting streak to 14 games.
The Mets took a 2-0 lead after Starling Marte’s single and a walk to Mark Vientos — a wild pitch by Cristopher Sanchez advanced both of them.
Brandon Nimmo’s ground out brought in the run.
Pete Alonso’s error led to the Phillies scoring an unearned run in the second.
Alonso misplayed J.T. Realmuto’s pop-up, and the ball landed in shallow right field to load the bases with nobody out. Edmundo Sosa’s sacrifice fly pulled the Phillies within 2-1.
Nick Castellanos delivered an RBI double in the third that tied it 2-2, but the Mets caught a break when Alec Bohm was tagged out at the plate by Peterson attempting to score after the throw home eluded Luis Torrens.
The Phillies knocked out Peterson during a fourth inning in which they sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs.
Johan Rojas stroked a two-run double that put the Mets in a 4-2 hole before Ottavino entered and allowed a single to Trea Turner for another run.
After Bryce Harper was intentionally walked, Bohm blasted a three-run homer that gave the Phillies an 8-2 lead.
Ottavino, who had appeared in only one game over the previous 10 days, allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk over one-third of an inning.
Bohm’s big night continued with an RBI single in the sixth against Brazoban.
Before the inning was complete, Castellanos drove in another run with a ground out, extending the Phillies’ lead to 10-2.
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Realmuto crushed a two-run homer against Danny Young in the eighth. It was a third straight rough outing for the lefty, all of them against the Phillies.
On the offensive side, J.D. Martinez went hitless in three at-bats and extended his drought to 0-for-31. Mendoza said “maybe” when asked if he might consider giving Martinez a break to clear his mind.
“It’s not the first time he’s been in a slump.” Mendoza said. “We are going to need him, and he’ll get through it, but it’s hard for him right now.”
