Remembering Mets History (2022) Mets Pitchers Allow One Earned Run Over Three Starts

August 12th - August 14th, 2022: Buck Schowalter's Mets (75-40) were in first place 5.5 games up on the Atlanta Braves. They hosted the third place Philadelphia Phillies in a big series at Citi Field.

On June 3rd, the Phillies fired their manager Joe Girardi, at the time they were 12.5 games behind the Mets with a 22-29 record. Since that time, the Phils have played better ball, going 46-20 under interim manager Rob Thomson. Although they lost their star player in Bryce Harper in late June, they have still excelled. At the trade deadline the Phillies added Brandon Marsh, David Robertson & Noah Syndergaard.

The Phillies have also improved their defense, something Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez openly criticized, saying he asked the management at SNY to have him not work Phillies games.

Quotes- Keith Hernandez: " I've expressed to the front office- not the Mets but our front office at SNY, that I hate doing Philly games, so I guess they gave me the series off. They're hot right now, I would like to see them. But as far as fundamentally & defensively the Phillies have always been just not up to it".

The city of Brotherly Love has been going crazy over those comments, making Hernandez public enemy number one down there.

The last time the two teams met, the Mets swept the three-game series putting the Phils 9.5 games back on May 28th. With all the Phillies winning, including riding a seven-game win streak two days before this series began, they were still 10.5 games behind the first place Mets. They were second in the wild card race.

Friday August 12th, 2022: A big crowd of 38,467 came out to Citi Field to see Buck Showalter's first place Mets take on the Phillies. Tonight, Max Scherzer went up against Ranger Suarez.

Scherzer wasn't at his best allowing nine hits, but only allowed one run in seven innings as he struck out six & walked no one. In the 1st inning, Bryson Scott led off with a double, he scored on Alec Bohm's base hit.

In the 2nd, Scherzer got out of a base loaded jam, in the 4th he got out of a jam with two men on. The Mets bullpen did a fine job, as Adam Ottavino & Edwin Diaz pitched scoreless innings. 

In the 9th, Starling Marte led off with a double but was thrown out at home on pinch hitter Daniel Vogelbach's sac fly. The close play at home didn't go the Mets way & the game went to extras.

In the 10th, inning the inherited runner got to third base on a ground out. Then Alec Bohm sac fly off Mychal Givens scored what was the game winning run. The run was unearned.

The only Mets run came in the 2nd, when Pete Alonso walked, Darrin Ruf doubled & Alonso scored on Mark Canha's sac fly.

Saturday August 13th: The largest crowd of the year (so far) came out to Citi Field to see Jacob deGrom face off against Aaron Nola, in a marquee pitching matchup.

Jacob deGrom, was outstanding, as he pitched six shutout innings, striking out ten batters, while allowing just two hits. In the 1st inning, deGrom started the game striking out Bryson Stott. 

He then gave up a base hit to Rhys Hoskins, it would be the only hit he would give up until 16 batters later in the 6th inning. He ended the 1st inning striking out JT Realmuto.

In the 2nd inning, deGrom struck out the side, he struck out a batter in each of the 3rd & 4th innings. In the 5th, he struck out Nick Castellanos & Brandon Marsh. In the 6th he struck out his tenth batter Darick Hall as he exited to a huge Citi Field ovation.

Aaro Nola pitch a great game as well, except if you're going to be good against Jacob deGrom you have to be perfect. In the 1st inning, Starling Marte reached on a base hit & then stole second. Pete Alonso singled driving in his 97th run of the year. It was all the Mets needed in the 1-0 win.

Seth Lugo, Trevor May & Edwin Diaz all pitched scoreless innings to complete the 1-0 shut out. Edwin Diaz wasn't perfect for the first time in a long time, he walked two batters in the 9th, but struck out Castellanos to end the game.

Sunday August 14th: In this Sunday matinee, 40,513 fans came out to Citi Field to see the Mets Chris Bassitt went up against former Met, Zack Wheeler. 

In the 1st inning, Brandon Nimmo led off with a double. Francisco Lindor singled to bring him in with the Mets first run & his 82nd RBI.

In the 4th inning, Pete Alonso hit his 22nd double of the year. Then the Mets had another two-out rally, Mark Canha singled bringing in Alonso with the Mets second run. Canha went to second on the throw home. Luis Guillorme then hit a weak single to left, making it 3-0, as Canha scored. Jeff McNeil then drew a walk.

Then the Phillies sloppy defense came to haunt them once again, luckily Keith Hernandez wasn't broadcasting the game to see it. James McCann singled on bloop to center field, Brandon Marsh bobbled it then tossed it lightly to second baseman Jean Segura, who held it for a second, then he saw Jeff McNeil break for home, he threw to the catcher JT Realmuto, but the throw was off & Realmuto couldn't handle it, McNeil would have been out if the play was made, but he was safe making it 4-0 Mets. Hernandez called those baseball "fundies" fundamentals.

In the 6th inning, the Mets newest folk hero, Daniel Vogelbach hit a HR over the right field wall, making it 6-0. It was his 15th HR of the year, his third as a Met with his 11th Mets RBI.

As for the Mets pitching, Chris Bassitt he pitched four shutout innings, striking out five allowing just four hits. Trevor Williams put in two scoreless, Mychal Givens put in one scoreless. 

In the 9th Joley Rodriguez gave up two hits & a walk, he was relieved by Adam Ottavino who struck out Alec Bohm to end the game.

The Mets finished off taking two of three from the Phillies putting them 11.5 games behind them in the standings, they also fell to third in the wild card race. This season the Mets have taken eleven of fifteen games from the Phillies.

In the three-game series the Mets pitchers allowed just one earned run in the 27 innings & that came in the first inning of the series opener on Friday night.