Final Score: Phillies 7, Mets 5—It’s Not What You Font

The New York Mets, trapped in a seemingly never-ending string of stinging losses, dropped another heartbreaker to the Philadelphia Phillies tonight by a 7-5 score. Once again, it was the bullpen serving as the main culprit, with Wilmer Font playing the role of goat.

Like last night, the Mets jumped out to a quick lead with two runs in the first, but Walker Lockett gave one right back in the bottom half of the frame. The Mets’ offense chipped away at Jake Arrieta with runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings as they built a 5-2 lead. Lockett was lifted in the bottom half of the sixth with runners at second and third and one out, and Font was called on to protect the lead.

Font failed spectacularly, as he recorded just one out and let five runs—including the two inherited runners—cross the plate. The final pitch he threw caught Scott Kingery on the shoulder, which resulted in both benches being warned and Phillies manager Gabe Kapler getting ejected. When the dust settled, the Mets trailed by two.

The Mets put the tying runs on base in the eighth and ninth but were unable to draw even. After putting runners on second and third with two outs in the eighth, Philadelphia brought in closer Hector Neris for the four-out save. Neris got Pete Alonso to foul out to end the inning and worked around some trouble in the ninth before shutting the door. Just about the only positive for the Mets was Jeff McNeil, who had four hits on the evening.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

Nice job by MetsFan4Decades; her effort in the GameThread embiggens us all.

1. MetsFan4Decades: 149
2. MookieTheCat: 81
3. stickguy: 74
4. John Oldnrude: 55
5. JR and the Off-Balance Shots: 54
6. BK_Machetero3191: 53
7. Jets Mets Devils Nets 16: 50
8. AnneInFlushing: 46
9. deegie: 42
10. zoddie: 26