Marlins Fall to Mets in Phillips’ Second Start of Season

Tyler Phillips was solid on the mound in his second start of the season, but the Miami Marlins’ offense was not. 

Phillips went five innings for the first time as a Marlin pitcher during Miami’s 6-1 loss on the road against the New York Mets on Saturday. 

“They just outplayed us today,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said during his postgame press conference. 

The Marlins (26-33) went from sweeping the Mets at home last weekend to being in danger of being swept by New York. 

Phillips held the Mets scoreless through three innings before giving up three runs in the fourth inning. Those runs were all he allowed, including six hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. 

The Mets did their damage in the fourth inning on a two-run double from Mark Vientos and an RBI single by Marcus Semien. 

McCullough said Phillips was given a pitch count of slightly above 70 this outing. He said while Phillips “fell behind some hitters” in the middle of the outing, “Tyler did really well” in his second start out of the bullpen.

“For his second [start], he went out and threw the ball well and gave us a chance there,” McCullough said. “From that standpoint, encouraging to see him build upon the ups and the pitch count as we continue to stretch him out.”

Christian Scott also went five innings for the Mets, allowing only one run on five hits with eight strikeouts for the win.

“He’s got a good heater,” McCullough said of Scott, praising his multitude of effective pitches. “It’s a good arm, and he threw well today.”

With the exception of Liam Hicks, who went 3-for-4 with his 45th RBI of the season, the entire Marlins lineup struggled against New York pitching, striking out a total of 15 times. 

“You don’t really need a defense when you punch out like that,” McCullough said. 

The Mets later added to their lead with a pair of solo home runs from Jared Young in the sixth inning and Hayden Senger in the seventh. For both youngsters, it was their first homer of the season, but for Senger, it was his first as a big leaguer. 

“We know how hard he works and how hard it is at times for his offensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Senger. “He’s capable of hitting homers. In Triple-A, we’ve seen that.”

Juan Soto later drove in a run in the eighth inning off Lake Bachar, who went two innings with three runs allowed on four hits with two strikeouts. 

William Kempner pitched a scoreless ninth inning after being called up from Triple-A Jacksonville for his second stint with the Fightin’ Fish. 

The Marlins will turn to Janson Junk (3-5, 4.80 ERA) on Sunday in hopes of preventing being swept for the second time this season. The Mets will look to complete their revenge with Nolan McLean (2-4, 4.40 ERA) taking the ball. 

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