Phillies Lose To Mets, 4-1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chris Young hit a two-run homer and Zack Wheeler struck out nine in 6 1-3 innings to lead the New York Mets to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night in the opener of a rare five-game series.
The Mets, who opened an 11-game road trip, matched a season best with their third straight victory while beating the Phillies for the sixth straight time at Citizens Bank Park.
Marlon Byrd homered for the Phillies, who set a season high with 15 strikeouts against four Mets pitchers.
The series originally was scheduled for four games, but the teams will make up their April 30 rainout on Monday, which originally was a day off for both teams.
Wheeler (2-5) looked nothing like the pitcher who entered with a 4.63 ERA and one win in 10 starts this season. Mixing a fastball that hit the high 90s and a slow, knee-buckling curveball, the right-hander retired eight of the first 10 batters via strikeout.
Wheeler had sent down 14 straight batters until Byrd lofted the first pitch he saw with one out in the seventh over the wall in right for his seventh homer. That was the end of the evening for Wheeler, who matched his season high in innings while giving up the lone run and four hits and with no walks.
Jenrry Mejia struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save in as many chances. Mejia hasn't allowed an earned run in nine relief outings since being moved to the bullpen on May 12 after making seven starts.
David Buchanan (1-1), who was making his second career start in place of injured left-hander Cliff Lee (15-day DL, left elbow), left after giving up four runs — three earned — and seven hits with two strikeouts and walks. The righty earned the victory in his major league debut with a five-inning, two-run outing in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Dodgers.
Young, who entered with three hits in his last 35 at-bats, put the Mets in front 3-0 with a drive to left in the fourth. New York added an unearned run in the fifth when Curtis Granderson walked with the bases loaded in an inning that was extended by third baseman Cesar Hernandez's throwing error.
Ryan Howard, who hit a walkoff homer in Wednesday's win over the Rockies, went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. Howard entered with a hit in 12 straight games against New York, batting .417 with four homers and 13 RBIs over the stretch.
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