Walker and Turner lead the Phillies past the struggling Mets 5-1
Taijuan Walker pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on June 23, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) ((Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images))
PHILADELPHIA - Taijuan Walker pitched six strong innings, Trea Turner had a pair of RBIs and the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of two defensive miscues by the New York Mets in a 5-1 victory Friday night.
Brandon Marsh had three hits, a double and an RBI for Philadelphia, which has won seven of nine. Bryce Harper also drove in a run for the Phillies before getting ejected in the seventh inning for arguing with home-plate umpire Mike Estabrook after a called third strike.
Brandon Nimmo homered for the struggling Mets, who have lost three in a row and 14 of 18 to fall farther back in the playoff race. New York dropped to 34-41.
Walker (8-3), who pitched for the Mets the last two seasons before signing a four-year, $72 million deal with Philadelphia last offseason, gave up one run and three hits.
The Mets helped the Phillies take the lead in the first. Nimmo dropped Kyle Schwarber’s liner to short center field. Schwarber went to second on Kodai Senga’s wild pitch and scored on Harper’s one-out, opposite-field single to left. Senga (6-5) loaded the bases with a walk to J.T. Realmuto before Bryson Stott’s sacrifice fly to center scored Turner.
New York closed the margin to 2-1 on Nimmo’s two-out solo shot to right in the third.
But poor defense hurt the Mets again when the Phillies took a 5-1 advantage in the sixth.
Senga was lifted for lefty Josh Walker with runners on first and third and one out. Marsh lifted a shallow fly ball to short left that likely was not deep enough to score Stott from third base. But left fielder Tommy Pham and shortstop Francisco Lindor didn't communicate and the ball fell in for a single between them to make it 3-1.
With rain falling hard, Walker got the second out and then walked Schwarber to load the bases. Reliever Jeff Brigham then surrendered a two-run single to Turner that gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead.
Senga was charged with four runs — two earned — and five hits with six strikeouts and three walks in 5⅓ innings.
LONDON CALLING
The Mets and Phillies will play a two-game series in London next season as MLB takes another rivalry abroad.
League commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the games on June 8-9, 2024, at London Stadium ahead of this weekend’s series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs.
"It’s great for baseball," Mets manager Buck Showalter said.
ESCOBAR EXCHANGED
The Mets traded switch-hitter Eduardo Escobar to the Los Angeles Angels for two minor league pitchers Friday night.
The 34-year-old Escobar got off to a slow start this season and lost his starting job at third base in April when the Mets called up Brett Baty from the minors.
The popular Escobar has flourished in a part-time role at third and second, however, batting .333 (20 for 60) with three home runs, two triples, 10 RBIs and a .951 OPS in his last 25 games.
Short on young arms in the minors who could help an underperforming pitching staff, the Mets received right-handers Landon Marceaux and Coleman Crow. Both were starters at Double-A Rocket City. The 23-year-old Marceaux was 3-6 with a 4.88 ERA in 12 starts, He had 45 strikeouts in 59 innings. The 22-year-old Crow was 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA and 31 strikeouts in four starts covering 24 innings.
MEGILL TO MINORS
The Mets optioned Tylor Megill to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. Megill is 6-4 with a 5.17 ERA in 15 starts for the Mets this season. He gave up four runs, five hits and four walks in 2 1/3 innings Wednesday as New York lost 10-8 in Houston.
"Command has been the biggest issue," Showalter said.
Showalter did not announce a replacement for Megill in the rotation Tuesday at home against Milwaukee, saying the club is considering several options.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Andrew Painter (right elbow) tossed a 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday. Painter next will begin a rehab assignment. Manager Rob Thomson said before Friday’s game that it could happen next week and likely would be in Clearwater, Florida.
UP NEXT
RHP Max Scherzer (6-2, 4.04) starts for the Mets against LHP Cristopher Sanchez (0-0, 3.24) in the second game of the three-game set Saturday afternoon.