The Philadelphia Phillies (2-4) defeated the New York Mets (2-3) this afternoon by the final score of 5-2, to take the 3-game series at Citi Field. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_04_10_phimlb_nynmlb_1#game=2016_04_10_phimlb_nynmlb_1,game_tab=box,game_state=Wrapup

Game Notes:

• Matt Harvey was charged with the loss this afternoon. Harvey pitched 6 innings, while allowing 3 runs on 6 hits. Harvey walked 2 and struck out 3.
• Yoenis Cespedes was 2-4 with a 2-run home run.
• David Wright was 2-4 with a double and a run scored.
• Jim Henderson pitched a perfect 7th inning, striking out the side.
• The Mets only had 4 hits this afternoon.
• The Phillies surpassed their win total at Citi Field from last year, with today’s victory. Last year at Citi Field the Phillies were 1-8, this season they are now 2-1.

It was a real struggle again this afternoon with the Mets bats going mostly silent. Yoenis Cespedes hit a 2-run bomb in the bottom of the 6th to cut the Phillies lead to 3-2, but that would be the only offense the Mets would muster this afternoon. It’s tough to point out exactly what is wrong with the Mets offense, as collectively they came into the game with the league’s 28th ranked batting average. It is a major contrast to the pitching, as they came into today with the best team ERA in the Majors at 1.29. The only place I could start to look at would be Curtis Granderson at the top of the lineup starting the season 1-20. If Granderson is not getting on base it will be tough for the Mets to manufacture runs, as he was an on-base machine last year. To Granderson’s credit he had some hard hit balls this afternoon, so maybe he’s on the verge of turning his bad fortunes around. Harvey had another uneven start with his biggest mistake coming in the top of the 6th when he allowed a 2-run home run to Odubel Herrera. Harvey has innings where he looks crisp and the ball is coming out nicely, and other innings where he has been running into trouble with elevated pitch counts. However this was a much better start than his Opening Night start against the Royals.  There is plenty of time for Harvey to right the ship, and get back on track to his dominant self as I predicted him as my Cy Young award winner this season. 

• The Mets return to action tomorrow night when the Miami Marlins come to Citi Field for a 3-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm et. Tomorrow’s game can be seen on SNY and ESPN.

• Rookie Steven Matz (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his first start of the 2016 season against Marlins right-hander Jared Cosart (0-0, 0.00 ERA) who will be making his 2016 debut as well.