NEW YORK – If the New York Mets make a deep run in the postseason, they should award the Phillies a share of their playoffs winnings.
Where would the Mets be without their punching bags from down the Turnpike?
Heading into September, the Mets lead the National League East by 6½ games over the Washington Nationals. The Mets have built a chunk of that lead by running roughshod over the Phillies.
The 14th meeting between the two teams this season ended like so many others Monday night – with a Mets’ victory. Their 3-1 win at Citi Field gave them a 13-1 record against the Phillies this season (see Instant Replay).
With the loss, the Phillies became the first team to lose 80 games this season.
They have lost 10 straight to the Mets.
“They’ve just got our number up to this point,” always-upbeat manager Pete Mackanin said. “We have to try to take it to them the next two days. I’d love to beat them.”
The Phillies’ best chance of beating the Mets on Monday night came in the ninth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs against closer Jeurys Familia. Familia allowed a run, but wriggled out of trouble for his 36th save.
Otherwise, the Phils weren’t beating Bartolo Colon. Not on this night. The rotund, 42-year-old right-hander turned in another all-around effort in earning his 12th win and second straight against the Phillies. In less than a week, Colon has beaten the Phillies twice. He has pitched 15 shutout innings, walked three and struck out 17 over that span.
In this one, Colon scattered four singles over eight shutout innings, walked one and struck out nine. He also had a huge base hit against rookie right-hander Jerad Eickhoff in the Mets’ three-run fifth inning and made a couple of nice fielding plays that belied his unathletic appearance. In truth, Colon is a very good athlete.
“You’ve got to hand it to Colon,” Mackanin said. “The movement on his fastball – I’ve never seen so many guys take bad swings on fastballs and it’s because of the movement. You have to tip your hat to him. He just makes pitches.
“He’s a surgeon. Everything is at the corners.”
Jeff Francoeur described Colon’s pinpoint location this way:
“He could hit a gnat’s ass,” Francoeur said. “He’s unbelievable.”
But it’s not just the location. It’s the movement.
“He’ll have his off nights when he’s not getting his movement,” Francoeur said. “But when he’s on like he was tonight, he’s tough.”
While the Mets are playing for a division title, the Phillies are playing for the future. Guys like Eickhoff, picked up from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade, are trying to show they can help in 2016 and beyond.
All in all, Eickhoff looked good, limiting the Mets to just three runs in seven innings in his third start with the Phillies.
“I’ll take that every time,” Mackanin said.
All the Mets’ runs came in the fifth inning. It was a learning inning for Eickhoff. He gave up a one-out solo homer to Michael Conforto and a two-out, two-run shot to Curtis Granderson.
Granderson’s homer came after Colon extended the inning with a base hit up the middle on an 0-1 fastball.
“I think he learned you can’t take pitchers for granted, especially a guy that just swings,” Mackanin said. “The previous at-bat he threw him three sliders and he didn’t come close. With two outs you can’t take it for granted.”
Eickhoff said he did not take Colon for granted.
“I was attacking him,” the 25-year-old right-hander said. “I was just trying to get a quick at-bat out of that. I threw him a fastball away and I left it up and he put it in play.
“You have to respect him. He’s a great athlete, great pitcher, great player. He goes deep into games, fields his position and swings the bat. You have to respect that."
Eickhoff has allowed 15 hits and six earned runs in his first 19 innings with the Phillies. He has walked four and struck out 15.
“I try to do my best, but you can always do better,” he said. “I’m trying to improve with each start.”
So far, Mackanin likes what he has seen of Eickhoff.
“He’s been very good,” Mackanin said. “What I like about him is that he throws strikes.”
Bartolo Colon, much to the dismay of the Phillies, has thrown a few lately, as well.