The Phillies concluded a dreadful homestand with an embarrassing 11-2 loss to the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night.
The Phils went 4-7 on the homestand. They were held to two or fewer runs in five of the losses. They were shut out in two of those games, one of which was a no-hitter by the Dodgers’ Josh Beckett.
The Mets won four of five in the series, including the last three. They have won nine of their last 10 in Philadelphia, dating to last season.
The loss dropped the Phillies to a season-high seven games under .500. They have been above .500 just four days this season and have not been there since May 4.
The Phils are just 12-19 at home.
Starting pitching report
Roberto Hernandez lasted just 5 1/3 innings and gave up five runs, four earned. Hernandez is 2-3 with a 4.03 ERA.
Mets’ right-hander Bartolo Colon (5-5) pitched into the eighth and allowed just six hits and two runs.
Bullpen report
Jake Diekman and Phillippe Aumont combined to give up six runs in the ninth. Aumont gave up a grand slam to Wilmer Flores.
The Mets’ bullpen was exceptional in the five-game series. It allowed just three earned runs in 24 2/3 innings.
At the plate
The Phillies got the first two men on base in the sixth and eighth innings but managed just a run each time.
Only one of the Phillies’ seven hits was for extra bases.
The Mets batted around in the sixth inning and scored four runs. David Wright and Flores both had two-run doubles in the inning for the Mets. Flores finished with six RBIs.
Bobby Abreu doubled, walked and scored two runs for the Mets. Abreu, who failed to make the Phillies club out of spring training, went 5 for 13 with three doubles in the series.
In the field
Mets centerfielder Matt den Dekker had a couple of interesting days. He was demoted to Triple A Sunday morning then told to skip that night’s flight to Las Vegas after Juan Lagares was injured in Sunday’s game. Reinstated to the roster, den Dekker started in center field Monday night. He robbed Ryan Howard of a home run to dead center in the second inning and gunned down Reid Brignac trying to score from second on a hit in the third.
Phillies second baseman Chase Utley booted a potential double-play ball that could have saved the Phillies a couple of runs in the sixth.
Health check
Cliff Lee, on the disabled list with an elbow strain, continues to make slow progress, but is not ready to begin throwing. He will accompany the team on the coming road trip to Washington and Cincinnati and could be cleared to throw sometime during the trip.
Night off
Jimmy Rollins, 10 hits shy of breaking Mike Schmidt’s franchise record for hits, got the night off.
Up next
The Phillies visit the Nationals for a three-game series starting Tuesday night. Here are the pitching matchups:
Tuesday night – RH David Buchanan (1-1, 3.86) vs. RH Jordan Zimmermann (3-2, 4.07)
Wednesday night – RH Stephen Strasburg (4-4, 3.15) vs. RH A.J. Burnett (3-4, 3.79)
Thursday afternoon – RH Kyle Kendrick (1-5, 4.21) vs. RH Doug Fister (3-1, 3.34)
The Phillies are scheduled to face Johnny Cueto, Alfredo Simon and Homer Bailey in Cincinnati.