The Philadelphia Phillies (60-70) defeated the New York Mets (66-64) this afternoon by the final score of 5-1. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://m.mlb.com/gameday/phillies-vs-mets/2016/08/28/448812?#game=448812,game_state=final,game_tab=box

Game Notes:

• Making his first career start, Robert Gsellman went 7 innings while allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts. He was charged with the loss. Hansel Robles allowed three of Gsellman’s inherited runners to score, and was charged with a run himself.
• Curtis Granderson was 0-2 with a walk and an RBI sac fly.
• Jay Bruce struggles continue as he was 1-4 with 3 strikeouts.
• Asdrubal Cabrera was 1-1 with a base hit before departing early with an injury.
• The Mets left 8 on base today and were 1-5 with runners in scoring position.

Well after a promising first two games to start the series, Sunday did not go as planned for the Mets. Already playing without the heart of their lineup with Yoenis Cespedes and Neil Walker sitiing with injuries, Asdrubal Cabrera would reinjure his left knee in the first inning. Cabrera ran into Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph while legging out a hit and it appeared that Cabrera had injured his arm or wrist. That would not be the case as Cabrera would run to second base very gingerly and immediately be pulled out of the game. It’s another blow for the Mets (which is a redundant phrase this season) after Cabrera had been help carrying the Mets offensively since returning from the DL. Any reaggravation of the knee injury that cost Cabrera three weeks can’t be good, and while there is no official word on how long he will be gone, the way things have gone this season I wouldn’t be surprised if he hit the DL. Simply bad luck has followed the Mets this season and it appears there is no end in sight. 

Robert Gsellman pitched admirably in his first career start as he had limited the Phillies to only one run through six innings before being allowed to take the mound for the seventh. It’s extremely debatable as to how long Gsellman should’ve been left out there before loading the bases with no outs, or whether he should’ve been even sent out to pitch the seventh. In my opinion I didn’t mind seeing him out there for the top of the inning, but he should’ve been yanked when he gave up the first base hit of the inning. He’s a young pitcher making his first career start and the Phillies had a read on him in the seventh, and the Mets ultimately paid for it as Hansel Robles came in and did everything but put out the fire. I do like Gsellman’s potential however as he has a pretty good arsenal and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him the rest of the season. 

All in all it’s a tough day to be a Mets fan, as we lost another premier player to injury, we have question marks surrounding two of our top offensive players who were sitting with flare ups of previous injuries, and the Mets failed to gain any ground as the Cardinals, Marlins, and Nationals all lost today. I’ve learned to accept the roller coaster ride this season however as it seems each day of the season has brought something entirely different to the table. Us Mets fans will continue to adapt and hope that the best case scenario begins to work in our favor from here on out. 

• The Mets and Marlins will open a big four-game series tomorrow night at Citi Field which will certainly have postseason ramifications. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm et and you can catch tomorrow’s game on SNY.

• Rafael Montero (0-0, 11.57 ERA) will be promoted from Double-A Binghamton to make his first start of 2016 for the Mets against Marlins ace and Met killer Jose Fernandez (13-7, 2.91 ERA).