After his Mets pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter Friday, manager Buck Showalter kept stressing how quickly they could have lost the no-hitter, the shutout and their small lead against a strong Phillies lineup.
They found out the hard way Saturday night how true that was.
There was not a no-hitter to protect this time, just a one-run lead in the seventh inning, but Adam Ottavino was unable to hold it, allowing three runs as the Mets lost to the Phillies, 4-1 at Citi Field.
The Mets (15-7) loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the eighth, but Brandon Nimmo — the go-ahead run at the plate — grounded out to end the inning. The Mets, who had shown a knack this season for situational hitting, left 13 men on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
“It’s tough to think you’re going to win a game 1-0, especially against a team like them,” Showalter said. “We didn’t take advantage of the base runners being out there.”
Ottavino, formerly with the Yankees, entered with a 1-0 lead to start the seventh but walked J.T. Realmuto with one out.
Recent Mets-killer Kyle Schwarber came up next and made him pay, crushing a two-run homer to give the Phillies (11-11) the lead. Ottavino was trying to go up and away with a fastball and missed down and in, allowing Schwarber to take the Mets deep for the 10th time since the start of last season.
“I really wasn’t convicted on the pitch the way I should have been,” said Ottavino, who was wondering if he should have thrown a slider but was worried about a stolen base. “I was in between on what to throw there, so that’s on me obviously.”
Ottavino then walked Alec Bohm, who came around to score on a two-out double by Odubel Herrera to put the Phillies ahead 3-1.
Rhys Hoskins gave the Phillies an insurance run in the eighth with a solo homer off Sean Reid-Foley, who later exited the game with an elbow injury.
The bullpen letdown, plus a lack of run support from the Mets offense, spoiled a strong start from Taijuan Walker, who returned from the injured list to throw five shutout innings. The right-hander scattered two hits and two walks after dealing with shoulder bursitis.
“I felt really good out there,” Walker said. “I’m looking forward to getting into my routine and facing them again in five days.”
Phillies right-hander Kyle Gibson had quieted the Mets’ bats early, despite struggling with his command, stranding five runners through the first four innings.
The Mets finally took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning without the ball ever leaving the infield — except on a Phillies error. After Nimmo walked, Starling Marte hit a comebacker to the mound that could have been a double play. But Gibson’s throw to second sailed into center field, putting runners on the corners with one out.
Francisco Lindor came up next and hit a swinging bunt to first base. Hoskins charged to field it and fired home, but Nimmo dove in just before the tag to put the Mets on the board.
But the Mets failed to add on as Eduardo Escobar and Jeff McNeil struck out to leave the bases loaded.
Trevor May preserved the 1-0 lead with a scoreless sixth inning before things unraveled in the seventh.
“Tonight was lousy obviously, not proud of that, but I like the way I’ve thrown overall so I’m going to focus on that,” said Ottavino, who had given up one run in seven innings this season before Saturday. “I take a lot of pride in nipping these things in the bud and getting on a good streak the next time out. I feel good physically, my pitches are fine, so there’s no reason why I shouldn’t believe in myself.”