The Phillies bullpen allowed seven earned runs in the Phillies' 10-6 loss to the Mets. (Photo courtesy of SI.com)
It's time to face reality. This season is different. The Phillies are a last place team. The Mets are halfway decent. And someone else will win the NL East this year.
That's the message that seems to be sent right now. In Cliff Lee's return to the mound, not even he could save the Phillies from a sweep. He nearly did, but in the end, the Phillies bullpen or lack thereof could not keep the Mets off the board, as this disaster of a game and series ended as miserably as the weather.
The Phillies scored first again in this game, scoring in the second on a two-out RBI infield single by Lee.
The Mets answered in the top of the third with an RBI double by Daniel Murphy.
Freddy Galvis delivered a run in the fourth with an RBI ground out. Again, the Mets would score the tying run on an RBI single by David Wright in the sixth.
Galvis delivered again in the sixth, driving an RBI double to deep left to give the Phillies the lead. He scored on an RBI single by Laynce Nix.
That was also the end of the night for Lee, who pitched a solid six innings allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. But that meant the final three innings were in the hands of the worst bullpen in baseball. It didn't take long for this one to get out of hand.
A 4-2 game after six innings quickly spiraled out of control when Kyle Kendrick entered the game. A leadoff walk was followed by an RBI double for Justin Turner and another by Ike Davis. A walk to Rob Johnson loaded the bases. Kendrick then hit Lucas Duda with a pitch to tie the game. Andres Torres grounded out to give the Mets the lead before a double play ended the inning.
Back-to-back doubles to start the eighth plated another Mets run as Scott Hairston picked up the RBI. That ended the night for Kendrick, who allowed five runs in an inning-plus of work.
Before the inning was over, Jose Contreras allowed a three-run homer to Davis that set the ballpark into a barrage of boos.
Galvis continued to work on his good night in the eighth with an RBI triple, but the Mets replaced the run quickly in the ninth with a solo home run by Torres.
Hunter Pence hit an RBI triple in the ninth to give the Phils one last run but they were never closer, falling to the Mets, 10-6, and being swept in the series.
There are simply no words. It started as frustration and aggravation that Kendrick gave up the lead that easily. Then it just turned into a laugher. This Phillies bullpen is honestly comical. They once again failed in the task of holding a lead.
It's not the brand of Phillies baseball we're used to seeing, but it seems to be the brand of Phillies baseball this year. There is no other way to explain it.
Eventually, the boos will sound just at the sound of a player's name. Eventually, the sell-out streak will end because this garbage on the field won't be acceptable to fans any longer. Eventually, action from within, whether in personnel or the players on the field, will take place. But not soon enough, and that's the problem.
When you take Chase Utley and Ryan Howard out of the picture, this is a pitiful baseball team. And that's the harsh reality.
So for now, we leave you until Friday, when it may or may not all happen again against the Padres.
Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
