That 3-1 start sure does feel like it was ages ago. In less than 24 hours, the New York Mets have fallen back to earth after their solid start with two dreadful losses to the Philadelphia Phillies. They followed up Wednesday night's 10-7 defeat with an 11-0 beatdown Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
It's hard enough to beat Roy Halladay under normal circumstances, but on this day the Mets decided to spot him six runs over the first four innings. All the Cy Young award winner did was put up zeros for seven innings, giving up six hits and striking out seven while walking just one.
New York did threaten to in the third inning when they loaded the bases with one out behind singles from Josh Thole, Jose Reyes and Willie Harris. Halladay put out the fire quickly by striking out David Wright and getting a weak groundout from Ike Davis to end the inning and the ace never looked back.
Former Met Wilson Valdez, filling in for the injured Chase Utley, knocked New York pitching around as much as any Phillie player on his way to a career-high four hits, including two doubles and three runs batted in. In the seventh inning and Philadelphia holding an 8-0 lead, Raul Ibanez connected on his first home run off the season off of Tim Byrdak to get the Phillies to double digits.
Starter Jon Niese lasted just four innings, a day after Mike Pelfrey barely got through two, and surrendered six runs on eight hits. He did, however, strike out seven while walking just one.
Reyes led what little Mets offense there was with two hits, raising his season average to .310.
Terry Collins' crew won't have much time to stew over the loss with Opening Day at Citi Field coming up on Friday afternoon against the Washington Nationals.