Toss this one into the dumpster and forget it existed if you are the Mets. Saturday was “nothing went right” night, unless the bullpen’s conspicuous absence from blame is noted.
Marcus Stroman provided little resistance, but the right-hander didn’t receive defensive help, and the Mets’ lineup was absolutely useless, more than negating Bryce Harper’s precautionary absence a night after he was drilled in the wrist.
That was the recipe for a 5-0 loss to the Phillies at Citi Field that ended the Mets’ two-game winning streak. The Mets can still try to win the series Sunday, before the sizzling Diamondbacks arrive for four games. The Mets, who were shut out for the first time since July 19, remained four games behind the Cubs for the NL’s second wild card.
In his latest blah start, Stroman lasted only four innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on 10 hits with six strikeouts. Stroman has started seven games for the Mets since arriving in a July deal with Toronto and failed to complete six innings in four of them. Overall, he is 1-2 with a 5.05 ERA for the Mets.
NEW YORK SPORTS THIS WEEK 