Field Level Media
Sep 7, 2019
Drew Smyly allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings, and two relievers finished the Philadelphia Phillies' shutout of the host New York Mets 5-0 Saturday night.
Smyly (4-6) completed seven innings for the second time, not allowing a run either time, since joining the Phillies as a free agent on July 19. He won his second straight start by cruising through the latter portion of his outing.
The left-hander mixed in an effective curveball and retired 12 of the last 13 hitters he faced after third baseman Brad Miller committed consecutive fielding errors to begin the fourth. Smyly struck out six, walked two -- both in the first inning -- and threw 70 of 108 pitches for strikes.
Cesar Hernandez hit a homer to lead off the game and singled to drive in the first run of a four-run fourth inning as the Phillies rebounded from consecutive walk-off losses and overcame tying a season-high with three errors.
Philadelphia gained a game on the Chicago Cubs for the second-wild card spot, and are now three back, though the Arizona Diamondbacks are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Phillies.
Hernandez got things going by lifting a full-count cutter from Marcus Stroman (7-13) into the first row of the second deck in right field.
After Mets left fielder J.D. Davis misplayed Scott Kingery's fly ball, the Phillies extended the lead to 5-0 against Stroman.
With two on, Hernandez hit a single to right field over the leaping attempt of second baseman Jeff McNeil to right field to make it 2-0.
J.T. Realmuto followed with an RBI single, and Corey Dickerson extended the lead to 5-0 with a double down the right-field line.
The Phillies played without Bryce Harper, who was hit in the right hand in the third inning on Friday and was held out as a precautionary measure.
After Smyly finished his outing, Cole Irvin got a double play to end a scoreless eighth. Nick Pivetta finished up with a scoreless ninth in which he faced four pinch hitters.
Stroman heard loud boos as he walked off the mound after the fourth inning. He was tagged for five runs (four earned) on a season-high 10 hits in four innings.
Stroman struck out six and did not issue a walk.
The Mets lost for the ninth time in 14 games. New York also began the night four games behind the Cubs for the second wild-card spot and are now five back.
--Field Level Media