Mets stumped by Aaron Nola’s efficient four-hitter in loss to Phillies
The Mets didn’t get no-hit, which for the second time in four games was about the best thing that could be said about their performance.
After Max Fried frustrated this group three days earlier — the Mets didn’t get their first hit until the ninth inning in a combined no-no bid — another Cy Young award-caliber pitcher took his best shot on Tuesday.
Aaron Nola was more efficient in limiting the Mets to four hits over nine innings in their 4-0 loss to the Phillies at Citi Field.?
Nola, who retired the first 15 batters he faced, allowed only two singles before Jeff McNeil’s bloop pinch-hit double in the ninth and Starling Marte’s two-out single.
Nola threw 109 pitches and finished with his fourth career shutout.?
Brett Baty, Omar Narvaez and McNeil are among the most conspicuous slumping Mets hitters, but there is enough blame to be shared throughout the lineup.
“This is not a bottom-of-the-lineup type situation,” Francisco Lindor said. “I haven’t come through. I haven’t done it myself either for the whole year. I have one or two good games and then three OK games. This is not about the bottom of the lineup, it’s about continuing to move forward.”
The Mets hit 10 balls that were at least 95 mph off the bat, according to Statcast, but not enough found holes. Nola struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
“We have guys taking good swings and having good at-bats, it’s just the balls haven’t gone through,” Lindor said. “It’s a tough one for sure. It’s one of those where you look up and are like, ‘Wow.’ In our hitters’ meeting we talked about it, everybody is swinging at the pitches they want and the execution is not there after the ball has been hit. The plan has been executed. We just aren’t getting the results.”
The Mets, who lost their second straight and finished 1-4 on the abbreviated homestand, have scored four runs or fewer in six of their last seven games.
The Phillies — absent Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper in the starting lineup on this day — became MLB’s first 30-win team this season.?
The teams will reconvene for two games beginning Wednesday in Philadelphia (a scheduling quirk implemented because of the Mets-Phillies series in London next month).
Jose Butto lasted five innings and allowed two earned runs on one hit with four walks and four strikeouts and a hit batter.
It was a second straight five-inning start for the right-hander, who walked three in his start against the Cardinals last week in which he surrendered three earned runs.?
Butto threw 41 pitches in the third inning, when the Phillies sent eight batters to the plate and scored twice to take a 2-0 lead.
After Butto walked his second batter of the inning, Bryson Stott to load the bases, Alec Bohm got plunked.
Butto followed with a walk to Brandon Marsh that extended the Phillies’ lead.
Johan Rojas’ single — the Phillies’ only hit in the inning — started the rally.?
“I was fighting myself,” Butto said, referring to his command. “After that I just tried to put the ball in play and get quick outs because I threw a lot of pitches in that inning.”
Tyrone Taylor singled on Nola’s initial pitch of the sixth inning, giving the Mets their first base runner.
But any thoughts of a Mets rally were short-lived: after the Phillies were successful in overturning a catcher’s interference call on Joey Wendle’s swing, Nola got three quick outs.?
“[Nola] was in complete control with the two-seamer and the cutter, but I thought the pitch that got us today was the knuckle curve,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He had command of all his pitches and he was on.”?
Jake Diekman walked three batters in the seventh, but his pickoff of Kyle Schwarber at second base helped keep the Mets’ deficit at 2-0.
Jorge Lopez entered to get the final out in the inning.?
Marte’s single leading off the seventh gave the Mets their second base runner against Nola.
But Lindor was quickly retired before Pete Alonso hit into an inning-ending double play.?
Sean Reid-Foley was tagged for two runs in the ninth.
Nick Castellanos delivered an RBI single in the inning before Stott’s double extended the lead to 4-0.
Garrett Stubbs doubled leading off the inning.
