The calendar says 2017, but Tuesday at Citi Field it might as well have read 1962 for the Mets.
In the eighth inning, the ball went up in the infield. The ball was dropped. One batter later, the game was tied. Two innings later the game was lost.
Of course, if you want to reference 2009 and Luis Castillo circling under an Alex Rodriguez pop-up, feel free.
“That was my ball. I have to catch that fly ball in that situation,” said Jose Reyes, who dropped the pop that triggered a nightmare. “Anytime there’s a fly ball like that I have to take charge and catch it.”
But Reyes flubbed the gimme that led to a game-tying unearned run before Philadelphia took batting practice against reliever Rafael Montero and added four runs in the 10th for a 6-2 victory that extended the Mets’ losing streak to four before a crowd of 23,536.
The flub of Freddy Galvis’ sure-bet out only added to the frustration of a horrific start by Reyes, who doubled in four at-bats to “raise” his average to .100. Additionally, Reyes was spared the indignity of being thrown out trying to advance on a short passed ball in the ninth when the return throw hit him in the back as he returned to first.
“My mind is fine. I want to help my ball club as much as a can. The only thing I have to continue to do is work to get out of this slump sooner than later,” said Reyes, grateful for manager Terry Collins’ continued support. “We got to the point last year where I was struggling and you guys asked Terry, ‘How long you going to stick with Reyes?’ and he said, ‘I have confidence in him.’
“It’s still early but I’ve got to be better.”
Again, Collins expressed support for Reyes, dropped to No. 7 in the order from his leadoff spot.
“He has earned the right to try to work his way out of it,” said Collins. “One thing you’ve got to be very, very careful of, especially with a veteran, and that’s look like you’ve given up on him. That’s not going to happen here.”
Reyes’ drop of Galvis’ pop ultimately cost Zack Wheeler his second victory. Wheeler, in his third start since 2014 and Tommy John surgery, pitched five innings, fanned seven and yielded four hits and one run that came on Odubel Herrera’s first-inning homer. Wheeler left with a 2-1 lead.
The Mets scored twice in the first against Phillies starter Zach Eflin. Michael Conforto, leading off for the second time this season, walked. One out later, Yoenis Cespedes walked. Jay Bruce’s RBI single scored Conforto and Cespedes scored on a wild pitch.
End the Mets offense for all intents. They had just four hits. Hardly enough to overcome their nightmare moments.
In the fateful eighth, Fernando Salas, the third of seven Mets relievers, walked catcher Cameron Rupp with two out.
“Fernando gets two easy outs and lost his release point,” Collins said.
So Galvis lifted a high pop between third and home. Reyes came in. Catcher Travis d’Arnaud stood and watched as Reyes dropped the ball.
“I took my eye off it instead of keeping my eye on it. I guess he drifted back to where I was a little more than I thought,” d’Arnaud said. “Maybe I could have taken charge.”
Rupp went to third, Galvis only made it to first — which seemed significant but ultimately was moot. Jerry Blevins was summoned to face pinch-hitter Andres Blanco who doubled over Cespedes’ head in left. Originally, it appeared two runs scored but the second run was erased when the Mets challenged and won because the ball had bounced over the orange line atop the wall for a ground-rule double. But the 10th inning made it a so-what moment.
Michael Saunders singled, literally, off Montero (0-2). Tommy Joseph singled to right and Rupp hit a sac fly. Galvis and pinch-hitter Aaron Altherr singled. Juan Lagares, inserted in the seventh, fired a one-hop bullet home on Altherr’s hit but the ball eluded d’Arnaud and Lagares was charged with an error. Daniel Nava then singled home two and it was 6-2. Just like the bad old days.
“It’s frustrating right now because we’ve lost four in a row,” Collins said. “But we’ll dig out of it, we’ll get through it.”