PHILADELPHIA— In the final regular-season meeting between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, the home club was looking for revenge.
After being swept twice in New York, the Phillies had an opportunity to get back at the Mets in Thursday’s matchup. Sending Jesus Luzardo to the mound, Philly continued what has been an open audition for the playoff rotation.
With the loss of Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez has cemented himself as the game one starter for the postseason. Who follows Sanchez will all depend on who ends the season the hottest. After Ranger Suarez pitched a gem on Wednesday evening, Luzardo was next.
First Inning Blowup
Francisco Lindor led off the ballgame for the Mets. Through the first three games of the series, the five-time all-star had gone hitless. Lindor didn’t hesitate to get on the board with a single to right field.
Lindor was followed by Juan Soto, who has quietly put together another remarkable season. Despite the large contract this past offseason, a slow start overshadowed Soto’s second-half surge. He would follow Lindor with his own single to right field. Both players would swipe a bag, moving runners to second and third.
Luzardo battled back with a strikeout of Pete Alonso, but would then allow three straight hits, including a two-run double by Starling Marte. The Mets erupted for four runs to start the ballgame, before a sweet 1-6 double play ended the jam.
Despite good velocity and movement on his pitches, Luzardo was giving up hard contact in the first inning. His fastball touched 99 miles per hour and his sweeper was painting the outside corner for right-handed hitters.
Including his double play to end the first inning, Luzardo would shut down the final 22 Mets hitters in a row to conclude his outing.
Otto-matic
After having a few chances early in the game, the Phillies could not manage to strike back. Still trailing 4-0 from their early deficit, Nick Castellanos would lead off the fourth inning.
Working an impressive count, Castellanos would reach for the second time in the ballgame with a walk. His efforts proved to be fruitful because the next batter was Otto Kemp. Kemp would connect with a ball that did not miss any slice of the barrel.
Kemp’s home run went to deep center field, just above the Monty’s angle sign. The ball went 433 feet, leaving the bat at 107.1 miles per hour. His blast would have cleared the fence at any park in Major League Baseball.
The momentum swung back in the Phillies’ favor after the home run. In the bottom of the fifth, Weston Wilson, who started a second base tonight, led the frame off with a single. A few batters later, Bryce Harper stepped to the plate. Looking to get his first hit of the game, Harper just snuck the ball down the right field line for a double. Wilson would score from first, making it a 4-3 ballgame.
In the sixth, the Mets opted to head to their bullpen. Replacing David Peterson was Reed Garrett, opting for the righty against the bottom of the Phillies’ order. Castellanos would welcome Garrett to the ballgame with a leadoff double.
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The next batter was Kemp, who was looking to do more damage. He would get underneath a ball and get enough on it to send it out to centerfield.
Jeff McNeil, who started in center, would completely whiff on Kemp’ fly ball to deep center. Running in instead of back, the first rule you are taught in Little League, Kemp’s ball would bounce off the wall for another double. Castellanos scored, tying the game at 4-4.
Following the double, Brandon Marsh would work a walk. Bader was next and the red-hot center fielder was looking to continue his tear against New York. A single through the gap at shortstop would do the trick, driving in Kemp to take the lead.
That would be it for Garrett, who was replaced by Brooks Raley. The veteran left hander would walk Schwarber and then face Harper with the bases loaded. Harper would again use the foul line to his advantage. Hitting a rocket down the line, first baseman Alonso was unable to handle it. Resulting in which was called a base hit (should have been ruled an error), Harper would drive in another run. The Phillies took advantage of bad defense, leading to a 6-4 lead after six.
Going the distance
After his early struggles, Luzardo put on a flawless performance.
Keeping the Mets off the bases past the first inning, he allowed the Phillies offense to work themselves back into the game. If this were the playoffs, Luzardo might not have made it out of the first inning. He did prove to his manager however, he can battle back when the odds are stacked against him.
Luzardo started off the eighth inning with 84 pitches. His lease was going to be short, with both Matt Strahm and David Robertson warming in the Phillies’ bullpen. He would get Luisangel Acuna to go down swinging for the first out. The second out was a masterful play by Sosa. Pinch hitting for Hayden Sanger, Francisco Alvarez entered the game. He hit a dribbler to shortstop, where Sosa would charge, glove, and throw a strike to first base.
The last batter of the inning would be Lindor, stepping up for his fourth plate appearance. Luzardo would get Lindor swinging, earning his 10th and final strikeout of the evening. The lefty would finish with 8 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, and 10 K.
1-2-3
In the ninth, the Phillies turned to their trusted closer in Jhoan Duran.
The dynamic fireballer hit 102 miles per hour on the gun once again on Thursday night. While the Mets knew he was going to bring the heat, they could not manage any offense tonight. Duran sat down Soto, Alonso, and Vientos in order, 1-2-3, striking out the side.
After Monday’s performance where the Mets strung together a couple of hits, Duran was hellbent on keeping New York off the bases. Phillies pitching retired the last 25 hitters of the game and the Mets did not reach base after the first inning.
The Phillies improved to 87-60 with the win. They now hold an 11 game lead in the National League East and their magic number to clinch the division is now five. Their magic number to make the playoffs is four, which feels more like a formality than anything else.
They will host the Kansas City Royals before heading to Los Angeles to battle the Dodgers.
