Phillies Drop 3rd Straight

5. 6. 6. 3. Final

The New York Mets defeated the Phillies tonight, 6-5, in what was the most interesting and exciting Phils game of the season to date. But the result was a 3rd straight defeat for the Phils, dropping the club to 4-6 here in the early going.

The Phillies got the scoring started in this one the way they’ve seemed to score in so many games at Citi Field, with a homerun from Chase Utley into the lower rightfield stands that have now become known in both Philly and New York as “Utley’s Corner.”

Chase ripped a Matt Harvey heater into the stands in the top of the 1st inning, after Harvey had struck out both Odubel Herrera and Freddy Galvis swinging to start the game.. The lead wouldn’t last long.

More from That Balls Outta Here

In the bottom of the 1st, Phils starter David Buchanan yielded singles to three of the first four Mets batters. Michael Cuddyer was the 3rd hit, scoring Curtis Granderson, who had the first. Score tied 1-1 after one inning of play.

In their half of the 2nd, the Mets broke out in front when Lucas Duda delivered a clutch 2-out, bases loaded double on the first pitch from Buchanan. The double cleared the bases, and the three runs put the hosts up by 4-1 after the second frame.

The Fightins fought back with solo runs in both the 3rd and 4th off Harvey. In the 3rd, Utley delivered again, this time with a single sliced to the opposite field to score Ben Revere. In the 4th, Cody Asche took a 2-0 fastball from Harvey deep into the New York night, bombing one into the right field upper deck to cut the deficit to a single run at 4-3.

Apr 14, 2015; New York City, NY, USA;

Home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez (72) ejects New York Mets manager Collins (10) for arguing a catchers interference call in the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field.

Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

It was an exciting game to this point already, perhaps the most interesting Phillies game of the early 2015 season. Things got even more interesting, and a bit heated, in the top of the 5th. Buchanan started the inning by doubling down the right field line, earning a steak dinner from bench coach Larry Bowa, who promised him the meal if the Phils pitcher got a hit off Harvey.

Harvey bore down and got the next two batters, with Buchanan moving up to 3rd base and bringing Utley to the plate. The Mets big righty wasn’t about to let the Phils veteran beat him again, instead choosing to plunk Chase in the back. Both benches were immediately warned by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez.

But the excitement still wasn’t over. With Ryan Howard at the plate, the struggling former slugger was awarded 1st base on a catcher’s interference call that Mets’ backstop and former Phillies prospect Travis d’Arnaud protested vehemently. Mets manager Terry Ryan bolted out to join the protest, and was tossed from the game by Marquez.

Then in perhaps the pivotal moment in the game, Carlos Ruiz popped up to 3rd baseman David Wright, preserving the lead for Harvey and New York at 4-3.

The Mets produced solo runs of their own in the bottom of both the 5th and 7th to extend their lead. In the 5th inning, d’Arnaud singled to score Duda on a play that was reviewed, with the run standing. In the 7th, Daniel Murphy drilled a homer to right center off reliever Dustin McGowan to make it a 6-3 Mets lead.

In the top of the 8th, Utley did his thing again, taking Mets reliever Sean Gilmartin over the right center fence, cutting the New York lead down to 6-4.

Down to their final chance in the top of the 9th, Jeff Francoeur crushed a 1-out homer to left field off new Mets closer Jeurys Familia to pull the Phillies to within a run at 6-5. But Familia bore down and struck out both Herrera and Galvis to end it.

The two clubs will go back at it again tomorrow night in the series finale at 7:10pm, with Jerome Williams scheduled to take the hill against Jon Niese for the Mets.

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