Kerkering Blows Another one. Phillies Postgame 9/18/26

The Phillies lose a crucial game to the Mets, 6-3, and the series is now tied with two games left. Atlanta has officially clinched the division, so it will be interesting to see how the Phillies handle this final week of baseball. Mets rookie pitcher Zach Thornton shut down the offense today, allowing only six hits while the Mets had 13.

Tim Mayza got the start for the Phillies, giving up a double to Lindor to start the game. Mayza then gave up a one-out single to Bichette, an RBI single to Carson Benge, and a walk to Mark Vientos, and manager Don Mattingly decided to pull the plug on him after just a third of an inning. Jose Urquidy replaced Mayza, and his first batter of the game was AJ Ewing, who slashed a 2 RBI single to center, scoring Bichette and Beng, before getting two outs on Marcus Semien and Brett Baty, with the score after 1 inning being 3-0 Mets.

The Phillies respond with a one-out double from Bryson Stott that scored Edmundo Sosa to cut New York’s lead to two, before each team traded one-hit innings in the bottom of the second and top of the third with a Soto double and Turner single both not impacting the score. Urquidy then got a 1-2-3 inning for the Phillies, and that was followed up by a 1-out double by Sosa that the Phillies were unable to do anything with. Kyle Schwarber walked in the 5th, and Jose Urquidy gave up 2 more hits, but the score remained 3-1 at the end of the fifth, with Urquidy having a solid night of 4.2 IP, 5 hits, and no runs.

Edmundo Sosa hit a solo home run to help the Phillies draw a run closer before Orion Kerkering entered the game in the 6th for the Phillies, and his day started with an infield single from Marcus Semien, followed up by a strikeout to Brett Baty. Kerkering then gave up another single,  this time to Luis Torrens, before he struck out Lindor for two outs and 2 hits. Kerkering’s night then took a turn for the worse, as he gave up a 3-run shot to Juan Soto, 428 feet to center, scoring Semein and Torrens, giving the Mets a 6-2 lead at the end of 6. Derek Hill tried to help his guys come back with a towering solo home run to left at 408 feet in the 7th to make it 6-3, but two 1-2-3 innings in the 8th and 9th would mean another tough loss for Philly.

The loss tonight means Philadelphia does not have control over the top wild card spot, as they now hold an even record with the Cubs, who have the tiebreaker.

The Phillies will look to bounce back tomorrow night at Citi Field with Andrew Painter(3-9, 5.54) on the mound, as he faces off against Christian Scott(4-5, 3.76)

Photo Creds: Yahoo Sports.com