Phillies 9 Mets 7
PHILADELPHIA — Fresno Bobby Jones knew some things after the Mets’ 9-7 loss last night in the Phillies’ home opener.
He knew he blew an opportunity to get a win, as the Mets scored more runs than they had in any game this season.
He knew that every fastball he threw was high and bad and seemingly went for a hit.
And he knew that he feels so uncomfortable from the stretch right now that he went to the windup even with men on base last night.
But ultimately, Jones — coming off last season, when right-shoulder problems caused him to make just nine starts — doesn’t know anything.
“I don’t if it is something in my mechanics,” Jones admitted. “I really don’t know. I wish I knew.”
The Mets are 3-5, and their No. 4 starter is a concern.
After giving up four earned runs in 22/3 innings in his first start, Jones threw four-plus innings last night and gave up seven runs, six earned, on six hits — every one of which, according to Jones, came on fastballs, except for a cutter to Rico Brogna.
“I’ve got six days to figure something. I’ve got to figure something out,” said Jones, alluding to his next start — which, if it’s as bad as this one, will turn concern into alarm.
Jones escaped the loss as reliever Rich Rodriguez came on in the fifth and pitched just as poorly, giving up a Mike Lieberthal two-run homer that made the score 9-7.
“He hit a bad slider,” Rodriguez said.
Overall, the Mets put up seven runs on nine hits off five Phillie pitchers.
Phillie starter Paul Byrd threw better than his first start. But, keep in mind, Byrd lasted just two-thirds of an inning in that outing and came into last night with an 81.00 ERA.
Last night, after going 41/3 innings and giving up seven earned runs, his walk to the dugout included a salute from the Philly Boo Byrds.
Byrd left with Mets leading 7-5. But the Met pitching just couldn’t hold the lead.
“As soon as we got the lead, it seemed like we didn’t know what to do with it,” manager Bobby Valentine said.
A positive last night, though, was leadoff man Rickey Henderson, who started the game with a double and scored on center fielder Jon Nunnally’s double down the right-field.
It was Henderson’s first run this season, and his 2,104 career run (fifth all-time).
Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile both had RBI doubles in the inning. So it was 4-0 after one as Jones looked good in the first, retiring the side in order.
But in the bottom of the second, the Phillies scored five runs.
Scott Rolen and Brogna led off with singles, putting runners on first and third.
Lieberthal hit an RBI single to left. It’s 4-1. Mickey Morandini walked to load the bases. Alex Arias earned an RBI on 3-6 forceout. It’s 4-2. Zeile, at first base, handled that chance just fine, but on his next was not as fortunate.
A Byrd bunt went through Zeile’s legs. Lieberthal scored. It’s 4-3. Next, Doug Glanville smashed a double nearly off the 371-foot sign in left. Arias scored. It’s 4-4. Ron Gant came through with an RBI sac fly. It’s 5-4.
In the fifth, Henderson put up his second run of the year and No. 2,105 for the career. With one out, he singled to right and stole second. That set up Nunnally, who hit another double — this one to right-center that Glanville could not come up with as he crashed into the wall.
Henderson didn’t score, but, relax, it was the right play. He had to see if Glanville would catch it.
So with second and third, Mr. Consistency, Edgardo Alfonzo followed with a double to straight-away center. It scored both Henderson and Alfonzo. A Piazza single to right plated a sliding Alfonzo. So heading into the top of the fifth the Mets led 7-5.
