 struggled through five innings, allowing six runs and 11 hits but got a rare outburst from his offense. The Phillies scored only 15 runs total during their losing streak.Todd Frazier, Wilson Ramos, Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith each hit solo homers for the Mets.''It was tough one,'' Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. ''They swung the bats well and we did, too. They kept piling on runs and let their pitchers relax a little bit.'' Steven Matz (5-6) got roughed up again in Philadelphia. The lefty gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. He's 0-4 with an 8.18 ERA in six career starts in Philly's hitter-friendly ballpark. Matz didn't record an out and allowed eight runs - six earned - against the Phillies on April 16.The Phillies had lost 16 of 22 since May 29, going from first in the NL East to second place behind Atlanta.They went ahead to stay against the Mets on Franco's 10th homer in the fifth, a two-run shot to straightaway center that made it 7-6. Segura's RBI double on a liner misplayed by Jeff McNeil in right field made it 8-6. Segura had four hits and fell a triple shy of the cycle.Franco, who was 3 for 4 with three RBIs, hadn't been playing regularly but was back in the lineup because he's had success against Matz.''We need this guy. We're a different type of team because Maik can change the dynamic of the game from one swing of the bat'' Segura said.Cesar Hernandez's RBI single off Brooks Pounders extended the lead to 9-6 in the sixth. J. T. Realmuto snapped an 0-for-19 slump with a triple to center before Hernandez's hit. Hernandez stole second and scored on Franco's single for a 10-6 lead.Bruce's second career pinch-hit homer was a two-run shot that made it 12-6.Bryce Harper, back in the No. 3 spot in the lineup after leading off for a few games, had a pair of RBI doubles, and the Phillies had a season-high 19 hits.MICKEY'S CALLMets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen denied a report that he told Callaway to remove Jacob deGrom from a game at Arizona after the ace righty suffered a hip cramp.''It's not true,'' he said. ''No in-game decisions are ever called down to the dugout.'' Van Wagenen said it's common to ''communicate with the training staff anytime a player suffers an injury'' but insisted Callaway makes all performance-based decisions during the game.SORRY I'M SORRYWagenen announced the team fined Callaway and pitcher Jason Vargas for their expletive-filled confrontation with a reporter after Sunday's loss at Wrigley Field. Callaway apologized for the incident two hours after initially declining to say he was sorry in his first meeting with reporters before the game.VOTE OF CONFIDENCEPhillies general manager Matt Klentak said Gabe Kapler will be the team's manager through the end of the season and the coaching staff will also remain the same.''I believe in our guys,'' Klentak said. ''The key to this unit succeeding is the group coming together and doing it as a unit.'' ROSTER MOVEThe Phillies selected the contract of RHP Fernando Salas and optioned RHP Enyel De Los Santos to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.TRAINER'S ROOMMets: RHP Noah Syndergaard is scheduled to start for Class A Brooklyn on Tuesday. He's been out with a strained right hamstring.Phillies: RHP Tommy Hunter threw a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance on Sunday with Class A Clearwater. Hunter has been out since spring training with right forearm strain.UP NEXTRHP Walker Lockett (0-1, 23.14 ERA) makes his fifth career start and second for the Mets on Tuesday night, and Jake Arrieta (6-6, 4.12) goes for the Phillies.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Reeling Mets, Phillies kick off four-game seriesFLMThe Philadelphia Phillies suffered their seventh straight loss shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday. But it took the New York Mets less than two hours to make the Phillies' struggles a secondary story heading into Monday's opener of a four-game series between the two reeling division rivals.The Phillies and Mets will both be in dire need of a win when Philadelphia right-hander Zach Eflin (6-7, 2.83 ERA) takes the mound against New York left-hander Steven Matz (5-5, 4.28).The Phillies' longest losing streak of the year continued Sunday afternoon, when the visiting Miami Marlins completed a three-game sweep with a 6-4 victory. The Mets' weekend in Chicago went from promising to soap operatic with a 5-3 loss to the Cubs that cost New York a chance at winning the four-game series.Mets ace Jacob deGrom struck out nine in six innings and exited with a 3-2 lead, but Seth Lugo, New York's most reliable reliever, gave up a three-run homer to Javier Baez on his 42nd and final pitch of a laborious 1 1/3-inning stint.Afterward, Mets manager Mickey Callaway bristled at repeated questions over his lack of usage of closer Edwin Diaz, who has pitched just once in the last eight days and didn't warm up Sunday."Again, no, we're not going to use him for five outs," Callaway said. "I know you guys keep on asking, but my answer is going to stay the same." Shortly thereafter, Callaway directed a profanity-laced diatribe at a reporter who said he'd see Callaway Monday in Philadelphia. Mets pitcher Jason Vargas then stared down the reporter and profanely declared he'd knock him out.No punches were thrown and the Mets issued an apology a few hours later, which concluded with the promise to " ... have further discussions internally with all involved parties." First-year New York general manager Brodie Van Wagenen is reportedly expected to join the team in Philadelphia on Monday.A distracted Mets team might be the best medicine for the Phillies, who have been outscored 48-15 during their losing streak, a stretch in which Philadelphia has gone from 1 1/2 games behind the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves to 6 1/2 games back.The struggles mere months after signing superstar free agent Bryce Harper have increased the scrutiny on second-year manager Gabe Kapler and his coaching staff. On Sunday, Kapler continued to stress the need for the Phillies to remain a cohesive unit."It's ebbs and flows," Kapler said. "It's times of (poor) performance and times of successes and we get together as a group in the tough times. We fight together. That's what we're doing right now." Eflin lost his second straight start last Wednesday, when he gave up three runs (two earned) over six innings as the Phillies fell to the Washington Nationals, 6-2. Matz also lost Wednesday, when he allowed five runs over five innings as the Mets absorbed a 7-2 defeat at the hands of the Braves.Eflin is 2-4 with a 5.40 ERA in eight career starts against the Mets, whom he's faced more than any opponent. Matz is 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA in seven starts against the Phillies.--Field Level Media
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