David Peterson becomes latest Mets pitcher to implode in ugly series loss to Phillies

PHILADELPHIA — David Peterson barely gave his team a chance Sunday night, becoming the latest Mets starting pitcher to bury the team early.

Over the past week it’s a list that also included Kodai Senga and Freddy Peralta, both of whom also got knocked around early, creating a significant deficit. It’s getting too repetitive for the Mets.

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On this night, Peterson surrendered five runs over the first two innings, sending the Mets to a 6-2 loss to the Phillies. The loss was their second straight, completing a 2-4 road trip.

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“It’s very tough to give up the lead right away,” Juan Soto said of the team’s starting pitching woes. “But it’s part of the game. We have just got to be better. We have got to play better baseball and go out there and execute.”

There isn’t much to like about the team, save for a bullpen that consistently gives the Mets a chance in close games. The Mets (34-43) just aren’t playing enough of them.

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“The record is the record,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “For us, [starting pitching] is where it starts. Our job as a coaching staff is to help these guys get through it.”

In just his latest clunker, Peterson lasted only four innings and allowed five runs (one unearned) on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts over four innings. In three appearances this month the lefty owns a 12.15 ERA. His ERA for the season is 6.09.

Peterson walked Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber to begin his night before striking out Bryce Harper on a full-count pitch at his ankles. But Peterson still paid for the walks: Alec Bohm hit a grounder that went for an infield single, with Brett Baty’s errant throw bringing in the first run. Edmundo Sosa’s ensuing slow grounder to Bo Bichette went for an infield single, extending the Phillies lead to 2-0.

“I wasn’t too pleased with walking the two guys, but after that I felt I made an adjustment, challenged them in the zone, got some ground balls and weak contact,” Peterson said. “Kind of the way I finished, I felt like myself.”

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Bryson Stott and Turner singled in succession to start the second before Schwarber launched a three-run homer that buried the Mets in a 5-0 hole. It was the fourth homer of the series for Schwaber, who blasted three in the Phillies’ 15-3 victory a night earlier. Schwarber has 29 homers only 77 games into the Phillies’ schedule.

“We obviously have not put ourselves in a situation we want to be in, but it’s not for lack of effort or lack of commitment,” Peterson said. “I think it’s just 1-26 getting the job done. At the end of the day, do we come away with the win or loss, and that is something that we all need to focus on, whether it’s pretty or not.”

Carson Benge’s homer against Zack Wheeler in the third cut the Phillies lead to 5-1. The homer was the rookie Benge’s ninth this season. The inning concluded with Soto thrown out at second base by plenty attempting to stretch a single into a double.

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Harper hit a line drive into the right field seats leading off the fifth against Austin Warren to give the Phillies a 6-1 lead. A night earlier, Harper hit for the cycle for the first time in his career.

A.J. Ewing’s RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth cut the Mets deficit to 6-2. Ewing was the final batter faced by Wheeler, who left to a standing ovation. Wheeler loaded the bases on walks to Benge, Soto and Jared Young. The inning concluded with Marcus Semien striking out against Jonathan Bowlen.

“[Wheeler] is a really good pitcher, and the reason he’s really good is he’s able to limit damage,” Mendoza said. “In order to beat guys like that, not only do you have to create traffic, but you have got to hit. Against arms like that, they get the lead, and it’s going to be hard.”