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Mets Collapse Late in Loss to Phillies

PHILADELPHIA — J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius followed with run-scoring doubles that helped the Philadelphia Phillies rally past the Mets, 5-4, on Monday night.

The Phillies trailed 4-0 before they scored five runs in the eighth against two Mets relievers. Realmuto’s first homer of the season deep into the left-field seats made it 4-3. Hoskins ripped a tying double to left off Seth Lugo (0-1), and Gregorius lined one into the right-center gap for a 5-4 lead.


Phillies 5, Mets 4 | Box Score | Play-by-Play

Seranthony Domínguez (1-0) tossed 1 ⅓ scoreless innings of relief for the win. Brad Hand worked the ninth for a save.

The N.L. East rivalry is just warming up: The Mets play the Phillies 12 more times before the end of May. Then the season series resumes in August.

“I think we understand that our division is very tough and every game means something,” Phillies Manager Joe Girardi said. “But you can’t make too much of three games in April. I mean, they’re really important to us but neither team probably looks the way it’s going to look in a sense in June and July because people aren’t built up.”

Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm made three errors in the first three innings, a bad look as he tries to win the third base job over rookie Bryson Stott. Edge after this defensive disaster: Stott.

Bohm made his first error in the first when he charged a ball that shot off starter Ranger Suarez’s glove and made a wild, sidearm throw that sailed into right field. His second error was in the second, a routine grounder that he threw over first baseman Rhys Hoskins and into foul territory. Bohm completed the trifecta in the third on a wide throw that pulled Hoskins off the bag.

Lip-readers ran wild when cameras caught Bohm having some choice words after his second error.

The Mets, though, did not score an unearned run off the three errors.

Girardi said before the game he started Bohm over Scott because of previous success against Mets starter Taijuan Walker.

The 2022 M.L.B. Season

Baseball is back after a labor dispute delayed the start of the season.

  • Money Dominates: Amid a contentious lockout and record spending, the gaps between the richest and poorest clubs have only grown wider.
  • Division Rivals: The Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays will be duking it out all season in the ultracompetitive A.L. East.
  • Out West: Some star players in the A.L. West are hoping their health issues are behind them.
  • Strong Start: Defeats are inevitable during a six-month season. But early signs point to the Mets winning a lot.

“He’s had success off of Walker,” Girardi said. “And as I said, they’re both going to play. I think it’s important they both play.”

Walker, though, only lasted two innings because of right shoulder irritation. He struck out four, walked none and threw 30 pitches, retiring all six batters before he left the game. David Peterson tossed four shutout innings in long relief and held the Phillies in check.

Pete Alonso had an R.B.I. groundout, Eduardo Escobar made it 2-0 on an R.B.I. single to right and Mark Canha continued his torrid start with a run-scoring single off Suarez for a 3-0 lead in the first. Francisco Lindor added an R.B.I. single in the seventh to make it 4-0.

Steven Kwan of the Guardians, left, has reached base 15 times through his first four games in the majors.Credit…Kyle Rivas/Getty Images

Kwan Continues Hot Streak for Guardians

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The only big mistake that Cleveland rookie Steven Kwan has made during his first four big league games came in left field, where he was trying to rush a catch-and-throw to the plate and had a fly ball bounce off the heel of his glove.

He hasn’t made many mistakes with a bat in his hands.


Guardians 10, Royals 7 | Box Score | Play-by-Play

And after that gaffe in the outfield Monday, the 24-year-old from Oregon State came right back to belt a bases-loaded triple, becoming the first player to reach base at least three times in each of his first four games while leading the rechristened Guardians to a 10-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“He was trying to do it a little too quick and it hit the heel of his glove. But then his at-bat was terrific,” Guardians Manager Terry Francona said. “His at-bats are really, really good. That’s stating the obvious.”

Might as well drive home the point: Kwan went 5 for 5 and reached safely six times a day earlier, when Cleveland rolled to a 17-3 win over the Royals. He reached base three more times and added his first three R.B.I. on Monday, finishing the series 9 for 13, reaching base in 15 of 19 plate appearances and scoring four times.

“Pretty cool,” Kwan said in his typical understated manner. “Pretty surreal.”

Oscar Mercado added a two-run homer for the Guardians, who scored just once over the first two games in Kansas City but piled up 27 runs over the last two. The result was a split of the season-opening set between AL Central rivals.

“I’m done trying to figure this out,” Francona said of the scoring disparity.

Logan Allen (1-0) earned the win Monday with two scoreless innings of relief in his first appearance of the season.

The finale was tied 4-all in the seventh when Royals reliever Jake Brentz (0-1) gave up a single, sacrifice bunt and walk. Josh Staumont then gave up bloop singles to Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes as Cleveland took a 6-4 lead.

The Royals loaded the bases in the bottom half against Bryan Shaw before Hunter Dozier hit a fly ball that Kwan dropped. As a run crossed the plate, Myles Straw threw out a runner at second base in a bang-bang play that stood upon video review. Nick Sandlin relieved and got Adalberto Mondesi to ground into an inning-ending double play.

“Just tried to do too much,” Kwan said of the fly ball that got away from him.

Not to worry. Kwan atoned for the mistake with his triple in the eighth inning.

“He’s a tough out. You can tell that already,” Royals Manager Mike Matheny said.

Kwan’s now gone 72 plate appearances, including Triple-A and spring training, since his last strikeout, and his 15 times on base through his first four games is the most since in the major leagues since at least 1901.

“There are a lot of player development people who have their chest out right now, as they should,” Francona said. “I know we’re four games in, but every single one of them kept saying ‘Hey, he’s going to be OK, man.’ So I know they’re proud.”

Scoreboard: Box scores and summaries for the rest of Monday’s action.

Keegan Thompson Suspended

Chicago Cubs reliever Keegan Thompson was suspended for three games on Monday for hitting Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Andrew McCutchen with a pitch.

Cubs Manager David Ross was suspended for one game by Major League Baseball. Thompson and Ross also were fined an undisclosed amount.

Ross will serve his suspension Tuesday at Pittsburgh. If Thompson doesn’t appeal the punishment, he will begin his suspension as well with the series opener against the Pirates.

Thompson hit McCutchen in the eighth inning of Chicago’s 9-0 win at Wrigley Field on Saturday. The benches cleared and the teams exchanged words but no punches were thrown.

McCutchen was the first Brewer and fourth of five players hit overall in the game. Thompson, who was ejected for the first time in his career, said the pitch got away from him.

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