This time, Phillies benefit from rough outfield defense, defeating Mets

Final Score: Phillies 5, Mets 1

The Phillies broke a two-game losing streak on Friday in a manner that resembled the way they built that losing streak in the first place: Shoddy defense both in left field and on plays involving Kyle Schwarber.

A day after a brutal Schwarber error in left was at the center of a loss to the Braves, the defense gods were in the Phillies’ favor against the Mets, as two bad mistakes by New York led Philadelphia to a series-opening bounceback win.

The first mistake came in the first inning, on the Mets’ first defensive play of the game. Schwarber lofted a ball into shallow center field that should have been caught but trickled off Brandon Nimmo’s glove for an error.

An RBI single by Bryce Harper and sacrifice fly by Bryson Stott gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead, comprised of two unearned runs, later in the inning.

Then, in the sixth, Brandon Marsh lifted a ball to shallow left under which Francisco Lindor appeared camped. But at the last second, Lindor gave way to Tommy Pham, who clearly wasn’t in on the change of plans.

Instead of a flyout that wouldn’t have scored Stott from third and would’ve gotten the Mets nearly out of the inning, it fell in for an RBI “single.”

Things are going well for the Mets, thanks for asking. pic.twitter.com/oRjThoB8hF

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) June 24, 2023

It was so egregious a miscue that the Phillies punished them a couple more times. Schwarber walked and Trea Turner hit a two-out, two-run single after a brief monsoon to make it 5-1.

🎶🎶It’s still Trea Day🎶🎶 pic.twitter.com/x0OHxs0pN3

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) June 24, 2023

Backed by a two- then four-run lead that could’ve, in an alternate and more fundamentally sound universe, been a 1-0 deficit, Taijuan Walker fired six innings of one-run ball against his former team, scattering three hits and punching out five.

Gregory Soto, José Alvarado and Craig Kimbrel made the effort stand — and the Mets’ mistakes costly — by striking out the side in the seventh, firing a scoreless eighth and closing out the win, respectively.

The Phillies move to 39-36 on the season, while the Mets — who have lost 14 of 18 — continued their mid-season free-fall. They’re 34-41.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

• Harper drove in the first run of the ballgame, but a frustrating stretch continued for the two-time MVP when he was ejected in the seventh.

Bryce Harper’s night is over early. pic.twitter.com/gFCGjylqpy

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) June 24, 2023

• How does the signing look so far?

Taijuan Walker has a 1.71 ERA in his last seven starts, a span that totals 42 innings. That's more than half his innings this season.

So, for over half of his season by innings, and nearly half his season by starts (7 of 16), he's pitched to a sub-2.00 ERA. Down to 4.10 overall.

— Nathan Ackerman (@NathanAckerman_) June 24, 2023

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Saturday, June 24 vs. New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park
• 4:05 p.m. Eastern
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Radio: SportsRadio 94WIP

MORE FROM PHILLIES NATION

1. Phillies 2023 Walk-Up Songs
2. Nick Castellanos Playing His Way Into All-Star Consideration
3. J.T. Realmuto Hits First Phillies Cycle In Nearly 19 Years
4. Fifth Starter Shouldn’t Be A Priority For Phillies At Trade Deadline
5. Jake Cave Continues To Rake At Triple-A
6. Former Phillies Manager Joe Girardi Reportedly Offered College Job
7. Phillies Pay Homage To ‘One Of The Best Players To Ever Do It’ As Miguel Cabrera Visits For Final Time
8. As Trade Deadline Approaches, What Are The 3 Biggest Needs For The Phillies?
9. Even With His Mom Booing, Trea Turner Delivers The Biggest Hit Of The Phillies Season
10. What’s Your Favorite Phillies Uniform? Bryce Harper & More Give Their Picks