By: Theo DeRosa, contributor 
Final: Mets 5, Phillies 2
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Two batters into the game, Jerad Eickhoff's start appeared destined for the fate suffered by Jeremy Hellickson and Aaron Nola in the first innings of Friday and Saturday's games against the Washington Nationals.
Hellickson allowed five runs in the first frame; Nola ceded three. Tonight, in the first of three games against the NL East champion Mets at Citizens Bank Park, Eickhoff started off much the same way.
When Eickhoff gave up a homer to David Wright with one out in the first, it looked like the young righty was heading for an early exit. But he settled down, allowing just one other hit — a double off the bat of Asdrubal Cabrera — through the fifth inning.
The Phillies managed to tie the game at 1 in the third, as Odubel Herrera drove in Freddy Galvis.
In the sixth, though, Eickhoff gave up a go-ahead run. Yoenis Céspedes tripled, then scored on a double by Lucas Duda.
After the Phils couldn't tie it in the sixth or seventh, it was deja vu all over again for David Hernández, who gave up back-to-back jacks in the eighth to Duda and Neil Walker to give the Mets a 4-1 advantage.
The Mets' bullpen closed out the Phillies, 5-2, to win the first game of the series on the road in Philadelphia.
WP: Noah Syndergaard (2-0, 0.90 ERA) ❖ LP: Jerad Eickhoff (1-2, 1.89 ERA) ❖
Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| NYM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| PHI |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 | 7 | 0 |
David Wright took Eickhoff deep in the top of the first, giving the Mets a quick 1-0 lead.
The Phillies managed to tie the game in the third off flamethrowing Noah Syndergaard, known for his flowing locks and flaming sliders (95 mph with movement). Freddy Galvis doubled and then stole third, scoring on a soft shot through the hole by Odubel Herrera.
Syndergaard was sharp throughout the game, allowing just four hits and one run in seven innings of work. He was consistently throwing 100 mph and up during his strong start.
The Phillies did have a few chances, with runners on first and second in two different innings but failing to capitalize both times.
With two strikes and two outs, Yoenis Céspedes sent a triple down the right-field line. Lucas Duda followed with a fly ball just off the glove of a diving David Lough. Lough
David Hernández took over for Eickhoff, who exited after seven innings. Hernández had simply a bad outing, allowing back-to-back homers to Lucas Duda and Neil Walker to make it a 4-1 game.
Antonio Bastardo, a recognizable name for Phillies fans, pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Mets. Jeurys Familia closed out the game, as the Mets won, 5-1. Elvis Araujo allowed another home run — the Mets' fourth — to David Wright, his second.
Vince Velasquez will give fans something to look forward to tomorrow, as the strikeout-happy starter takes the mound for the Phillies (6-8) against Logan Verrett and the Mets (6-6) at 7:05 p.m.
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noah Syndergaard | 7.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0.90 |
| Jerad Eickhoff | 5.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1.89 |
Phillies
- Odubel Herrera: 1-3, RBI, SB, BB, .250 AVG
- Freddy Galvis: 1-4, R, SB, .224 AVG
- Ryan Howard: 1-3, BB, .200 AVG
Mets
- Neil Walker: 1-4, R, HR, RBI, .229 AVG
- David Wright: 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, .289 AVG
- Lucas Duda: 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, .233 AVG
Bullpen
Mets
- Antonio Bastardo (8th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR, 3.18 ERA
- Jeurys Familia (9th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 2.57 ERA
Phillies
- David Hernández (8th): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2 HR, 7.11 ERA
- Elvis Araujo (9th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1 HR, 3.86 ERA
What's Next
- Tuesday, April 19, 2016: vs. New York Mets, 7:05 p.m.
- Philadelphia — Citizens Bank Park
- RHP Logan Verrett (0-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (2-0, 0.00)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP
