Mets give up lead in devastating loss to rival Phillies

PHILADELPHIA – The first rule of playing against the Phillies, especially in their stadium, is don’t get lulled into a complacency after building an early lead.

Even without Francisco Lindor, the Mets seemed to be in a comfortable position on Saturday after building a four-run lead in the third inning.

But that was the end of the Mets’ points, and the Phillies stormed through the ajar door.

Reed Garrett was thrown out hard in the seventh inning but couldn’t finish the job, allowing a double by Cal Stevenson that gave the Mets the equalizer and the lead in a 4-6 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Lindor missed his first game of the season because he was suffering from back pain.

Luisangel Acuna came in from Triple-A Syracuse to start at shortstop in his MLB debut and went 2-for-4 with two singles.

The Mets’ lead in the National League’s third wild-card game shrank to half a game over the Braves, who later played against the Dodgers.

Luis Severino allowed only three hits in six innings, but two of them were home runs by Bryce Harper.

The right-hander allowed three earned runs, struck out five players with one walk and was eliminated after 86 pitches.

Starling Marte’s bases-loaded walk against left-hander Kolby Allard in the first inning gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Jose Iglesias hit a single to start the game and after two outs, Pete Alonso, JD Martinez and Marte each managed a walk.

Francisco Alvarez, who struck out on the first pitch, was taken out of the game, leaving the bases full.

The Mets extended their lead to 4-0 in the third inning.

Kody Clemens’ throwing error after hitting Alonso’s grounder to third base with his glove brought in the first run of the inning before Marte delivered a two-run triple.

The rally began with Mark Vientos’ leadoff double and Brandon Nimmo’s subsequent single.

Allard was replaced after three innings in which he allowed four runs, one unearned, on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

Former Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker played three scoreless innings as a relief pitcher.

Harper hit a home run in the fourth inning to cut the Phillies’ deficit to 4-1 after Severino retired the first 10 batters he faced.

It was the first blast Severino suffered in his last three starts.

Harper returned in the sixth inning and hit a two-run home run that cut the Mets’ lead to 4-3.

Trea Turner walked with two outs before Harper hit a sweeper in the bottom of the strike zone over the right outfield fence in an at-bat that lasted seven pitches.

Danny Young allowed two consecutive singles by Bryson Stott and JT Realmuto to start the seventh.

After Brandon Marsh’s sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third base, Garrett came in to strike out pinch hitter Weston Wilson.

But Stevenson took advantage of a full-count cutter and hit a two-run double that put the Mets behind 5-4.

Martinez opened the eighth with a hit that appeared to land in the Phillies’ bullpen, but Stevenson stretched over the fence in right-center and robbed Martinez of a home run to tie the game.

JT Realmuto delivered an RBI double in the eighth inning against Ryne Stanek that extended the Phillies’ lead to 6-4.