The Phillies’ offense didn’t put up much of a fight in Thursday night’s 4-1 loss to the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park to kick off a rare five-game series.
Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler tamed the Phillies on four hits through 6 1/3 innings, allowing just a run on a solo homer to Marlon Byrd.
Meanwhile, Phils starter David Buchanan suffered the first loss of his career.
Starting pitching report
In his second big-league start, Buchanan pitched 6 2/3 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks. The right-hander struck out two and allowed a two-run homer to Chris Young in the fourth inning.
Buchanan threw 96 pitches with 15 first-pitch strikes to 30 batters. Despite falling behind in the count so often, Buchanan had just four three-ball counts.
Wheeler struck out nine and did not walk anyone. Wheeler struck out the side in the first two innings and retired 14 in a row after a two-out single from Cesar Hernandez.
MLB
The win was just the second of the season for Wheeler.
Bullpen report
Lefty Mario Hollands pitched 1 1/3 innings and struck out three of the five hitters he faced. In 10 outings at Citizens Bank Park, Hollands has allowed just one run in 11 innings with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Justin De Fratus started the ninth and retired one of the two hitters he faced. Struggling lefty Antonio Bastardo walked the first hitter he faced after starting out 0-2. However, Bastardo got David Wright to ground into an inning-ending double play.
At the plate
Byrd’s homer in the seventh inning was his seventh of the season and second against the Mets this season. The homer was the Phils’ only hit after Hernandez’s infield single with two outs in the second inning.
Jimmy Rollins struck out twice while Chase Utley whiffed three times and Ryan Howard K’d in all four plate appearances.
Ben Revere was the only starter for the Phillies not to strike out.
Milestone watch
Rollins went 0 for 4 and is stuck with 2,221 hits -- 14 shy of Mike Schmidt’s franchise record.
Up next
The five-game series continues Friday night when A.J. Burnett (3-4, 3.51) takes on Mets righty Rafael Montero (0-2, 4.96). Burnett last faced the Mets on July 13, 2013 as a member of the Pirates where he took a no-decision after allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
In 20 career starts against the Mets, Burnett is 5-6 with a 3.39 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 124 2/3 innings.
Montero will be making his fourth career start Friday. He has never faced the Phillies.