PHILADELPHIA — Friday night’s game had a familiar start to it, with the Mets loading the bases on Zack Wheeler, only to leave them loaded. The Mets sure could have used a few of those runs in a 10-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The offensive woes and pitching woes continued for the Mets (45-31) in the series opener at Citizens Bank Park. They extended their season-high losing streak to seven games and slipped to second in the NL East behind Philadelphia (46-30). Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil hit home runs to tie the game in the top of the sixth after rookie right-hander Blade Tidwell gave up two in the fourth, and the Mets promptly imploded.
Right-handers Reed Garrett and Justin Garza combined to give up six runs in the bottom of the seventh. Two of those runs scored almost simultaneously, with Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto crossing the plate within a second apart.
That’s the two for one special pic.twitter.com/TWOhnXzaI9
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 21, 2025
There was no coming back for the scuffling Mets. No team goes through the season without a slump like this, but with the way the Phillies and the Atlanta Braves are playing, the timing could make things difficult for the Mets late in the season.
The pitching staff, once the best in the league, has given up 51 runs over the last seven games. The big hitters haven’t hit. Francisco Lindor is 3-for-26 with a double, four walks and eight strikeouts. Juan Soto is 4-for-23 with a home run, seven walks and three strikeouts. Alonso is 6-for-27 with a double, a home run and 10 strikeouts.
Wheeler shut out his former team over five innings, striking out eight and scattering four hits, walking three and striking out eight. But the Mets battled him, making him throw nearly 100 pitches. After five innings of hacking and whacking at the right-hander, they knocked him out of the game.
The Phillies went to right-hander Taijuan Walker, another former Mets starting pitcher, and Alonso and McNeil proceeded to go back-to-back with home runs, tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth. Luis Torrens singled off Walker with one out, giving the Mets a chance to rally, but it was over before it started.
Left-hander Tanner Banks retired Brett Baty and Tyrone Taylor to end the inning, and retired the top of the order in the top of the seventh.
Garrett faced five hitters in the bottom without recording an out. Brandon Marsh and Trea Turner hit back-to-back doubles to break the tie, Kyle Schwarber walked and Alec Bohm scored Turner on a line drive that went past a diving Alonso at first.
Back on top 4-2, Nick made it 5-2 with a single off Garza.
Tidwell was sharp over the first few innings of his second big league game, but around the fourth inning, he lost his edge.
Going up against one of the best pitchers in the game in an early-summer rivalry series is no small ask for a 24-year-old rookie. Called up earlier in the day to make a spot start, Tidwell showcased a hard fastball and a gyro slider with a ton of movement. He worked quickly the first time through the order, until a long fourth inning put a dent in his pitch count.
Tidwell was charged with two earned runs on four hits and struck out four, but walked three.
The stuff is clearly there for Tidwell. The 6-4 righty out of Tennessee is rated a top pitching prospect for a reason, and this was a preview of what’s to come. Still, there is some refining for him to do in Triple-A.
And plenty of work for the big league Mets to do in Philadelphia this weekend.
