Learning that Jacob deGrom would be forced to sit out his start in Philly on Friday Met Manager Luis Rojas knew the game would be tough as he was forced to go with Walter Lockett.
The Met two-time Cy Young Award winner has a neck issue and the Mets gave Lockett a 2 run lead which after serving up a 3 run homer to JT Realmuto Lockett surrendered giving the Phils a 5 to 4 lead in the fifth inning.
But the Mets fought back getting an RBI single off the bat of Robinson Cano who had homered earlier the game as Seth Lugo entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning hoping to send the game into MLB’s newfangled extra inning scenario but not on this night.
Bryce Harper lined a single to right scoring Roman Quinn who slid under the failed tag attempt of Wilson Ramos after a great throw from Michael Conforto. And the Mets had to sit through a video review as the call was confirmed by the replay process.
“it was another day at the park”, said Lugo, “and I wish it would have ended differently. We are fighters and I am proud of how we played.”
Met manager Luis Rojas echoed those sentiments saying, “Once again it is heartbreaking how hard this team is playing and how they are fighting. To get a just tough loss like this again is just so tough.”
Rough indeed as this Met season continues to have 2 overriding themes –tough losses following injury news further testing the Met depth. Those 2 trends must change quickly if this team has any chance of being invited to MLB’s expanded post season party.