Mets Lose to Phillies, Drop 1st Series

Jeremy Hefner looked so good in his first start of the season. He looked very bad in his second start, Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The Phillies beat him up early, and the Mets could not overcome the deficit and dropped their first series of the season.

Ben Revere led off the bottom of the first against Hefner with a walk. He tried to steal second and would have been safe, but he slid past the base and was tagged out. This saved a run because the next batter, Jimmy Rollins, doubled. Chase Utley then homered to make it 2-0. Ryan Howard singled and Michael Young walked. Domonic Brown then hit an absolute bomb into the second deck in right field to give the Phillies a 5-0 lead.

The amazing John Buck got a run back in the second with a solo blast to left. He now has five home runs — as many homers as Mets catchers hit all of last season. The Mets went onto load the bases with a walk and two hits, but Kyle Kendrick was able to strike out Hefner and Jordany Valdespin to end the threat.

In the fourth, Lucas Duda hit a monster shot into the second deck in right to make it 5-2. Brown’s homer was in the same area, but Duda’s was more impressive because he had to hit it into a fierce wind that had picked up.

Hefner was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth. He lasted just three innings, allowing the five runs on six hits, with three walks and two strikeouts. It was the second straight night a Mets starter went only three innings. Good thing for the bullpen that Thursday is an off day.

The Mets gave away a run in the fifth. With Valdespin on third and Daniel Murphy on second with one out, Ike Davis lofted a routine fly ball to center field. Valdespin was about to tag up easily, but for some reason Murphy was off the base and was doubled up, so the inning was over and the run did not count.

Valdespin, by the way, started in center and turned in two really nice catches. He is looking better and better out there. He also went three-for-five; it is becoming clear that Valdespin needs to be in the lineup every day.

After two shutout innings of relief from Josh Edgin, LaTroy Hawkins came on for the sixth and allowed a two-run home run to pinch hitter Laynce Nix to make it 7-2. Hawkins has allowed runs in three of his five outings for an ERA of 8.31. He may not be around too much longer.

Duda hit his second home run of the night in the eighth, another solo shot to make it 7-3.

But that was as close as they could get. Mets lose 7-3.