The Phillies’ Game 1 loss to the Mets has caused at least one meltdown among Philly media.
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Michael Barkann completely shredded the Phillies during the network’s postgame show on Saturday, showing a disdain for those who did not perform well and giving up on the best-of-five NLDS, calling the 6-2 loss “a disgrace.”
“Unless the Phillies fly in the face of history, this series is over,” Barkann fumed. “The Phillies have never won a series after losing the first game. Not once, 0-7. Don’t blame Rob Thomson for this one, don’t blame Kevin Long, don’t blame Kyle Schwarber and damn sure don’t blame the stud, Zach Wheeler.
“But [Trea] Turner, [Bryce] Harper, [Nick] Castellanos, [Alec] Bohm, [Bryson] Stott, [J.T.] Realmuto, [Brandon] Marsh, [Johan] Rojas, [Jeff] Hoffman, [Matt] Strahm, [Orion] Kerkering, [Tanner] Banks? Take a hike. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves.”
The game couldn’t have started much better for the Phillies, as Schwarber hit a leadoff home run against surprise Mets starter Kodai Senga, who made just one appearance all season due to arm and calf injuries.
But the Mets, led by David Peterson’s three strong innings, shut the Phillies bats down until Ryne Stanek gave up a meaningless run in the ninth.
When Wheeler, who gave up one hit and four walks with nine strikeouts, finally left the game after seven innings, the Mets offense pounced, as it has done often lately in the late innings during their miracle run against the Braves and Brewers.
They scored five runs off of Hoffman and Strahm in the eighth and tacked on another in the ninth.
Turner, Bohm and Marsch each went 0-for-4.
Philly hosts Game 2 on Sunday at 4:08 p.m. Luis Severino will start for the Mets, while Cristopher Sanchez will pitch for the Phillies.
