The Mets have counted on one quality start after another during this surge into the lead for a wild-card berth, but Friday they received NQ (as in non-quality) and were NC (as in non-competitive).
David Peterson’s worst start of the season coupled with underwhelming relief ended the Mets’ winning streak at four games with a 12-2 loss to the Phillies before 41,474 at Citi Field.
Peterson ended the Mets’ streak of quality starts — defined as at least six innings pitched with three earned runs or fewer allowed — at eight by turning in a clunker.
The left-hander lasted only 3 ²/₃ innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts.
Adam Ottavino, Huascar Brazoban and Danny Young had rough nights in relief.
David Peterson struggled in the Mets’ loss to the Phillies on Friday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostExplore More
Infielder Eddy Alvarez was enlisted to pitch the ninth and worked a scoreless inning, eliciting chants of “Ed-dy, Ed-dy” from the crowd.
The night wasn’t a complete disaster for manager Carlos Mendoza’s crew: Miami beat Atlanta, allowing the Mets to maintain their two-game lead over the Braves for the NL’s third wild card.
The Mets and Braves are scheduled to begin a three-game series Tuesday in Atlanta.
The Mets played a fifth straight game without Francisco Lindor, who is sidelined with lower back soreness.
Lindor participated in baseball activities pregame, perhaps a positive sign after he was limited to indoor exercises a day earlier.
Jose Iglesias, batting leadoff during Lindor’s absence, continued his sizzling play with a homer leading off in the first.
Adam Ottavino served up a back-breaking homer in the Mets’ loss on Friday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Philadelphia Phillies third base Alec Bohm (28) celebrates his 3-run home run off of New York Mets pitcher Adam Ottavino on Friday. Robert Sabo for NY PostThe blast extended Iglesias’ hitting streak to 14 games.
The Mets took a 2-0 lead after Starling Marte’s single and a walk to Mark Vientos — a wild pitch by Cristopher Sanchez advanced both of them.
Brandon Nimmo’s ground out brought in the run.
Pete Alonso’s error led to the Phillies scoring an unearned run in the second.
Jose Iglesias provided one of the few bright spots Friday with a leadoff homer. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostAlonso misplayed J.T. Realmuto’s pop up, and the ball landed in shallow right field to load the bases with nobody out.
Edmundo Sosa’s sacrifice fly pulled the Phillies within 2-1.
Nick Castellanos delivered an RBI double in the third that tied it 2-2, but the Mets caught a break when Alec Bohm was tagged out at the plate by Peterson attempting to score after the throw home eluded Luis Torrens.
Pete Alonso struck out with the bases loaded in the fifth inning on Friday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostThe Phillies knocked out Peterson during a fourth inning in which they sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs.
Johan Rojas stroked a two-run double that put the Mets in a 4-2 hole before Ottavino entered and allowed a single to Trea Turner for another run.
After Bryce Harper was intentionally walked, Bohm blasted a three-run homer that gave the Phillies an 8-2 lead.
Ottavino, who had appeared in only one game over the previous 10 days, allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk over one-third of an inning.
Bohm’s big night continued with an RBI single in the sixth against Brazoban.
Before the inning was complete, Castellanos drove in another run with a ground out, extending the Phillies’ lead to 10-2.
Realmuto crushed a two-run homer against Danny Young in the eighth.
It was a third straight rough outing for the lefty, all of them against the Phillies.