PHILADELPHIA – Luis Severino dominated the Phillies for much of his performance on Saturday.
The exception was against Bryce Harper, who hit two home runs against the right-hander.
“They didn’t hit the ball except for Harper,” Severino said after a 6-4 loss to Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park. “He was the only one who had a good approach against me and had two good at-bats.”
After throwing a strikeout at the end of the first inning, Harper hit a home run on a changeup in the fourth inning, cutting into the Mets’ lead of four runs.
Two innings later, Harper came closer to the Phillies.
Severino retired the first two batters of the inning before walking Trea Turner to bring in Harper.
At full count, Severino missed the slider that was good enough and Harper hit the ball into the seats on the right side, making it a one-run game and the Phillies taking the lead for good one inning later.
Carlos Mendoza said Severino might have been better off hitting the slider, and if the left-handed Harper had taken a walk, he could have faced right-handed Nick Castellanos.
Instead, Severino conceded only his third goal of the afternoon.
Harper’s at-bats were not surprising considering he already has 28 home runs this season. However, the Phillies slugger entered the middle of a 29-game home run drought, the second-longest of his career.
The two home runs he allowed to Harper totaled as many as Severino had allowed in his last five games.
He got off to a fast start, striking out the team on 13 pitches in the first inning. Severino retired the first eight batters he faced.
In six innings, the right-hander has struck out five times and allowed just one walk, and has allowed more than three runs just once in his last six starts.
However, the Mets have lost three of their last four games.
