NEW YORK -- Rookie right-hander Nick Pivetta was hit hard in the Phillies' 6-3 loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday night.
The game was ended in the sixth inning after a 57-minute rain delay.
The Mets ended up taking two of three from the Phillies and have taken 18 of the last 21 series between the two teams. The Mets are 37-17 against the Phils since the start of the 2015 season.
• For only the second time since May 27, the Phillies entered a game without the worst record in the majors. Tuesday's win gave them a winning percentage of .384. The San Francisco Giants entered the day at .383.
• Pivetta has a good arm. He's one of hardest throwers on the roster. But like many young pitchers on this club, he throws too many pitches - period - and too many over the heart of the plate. He was tagged for 10 hits and six runs over five innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. Pivetta has shown flashes of brilliance this season. There's something there. It just needs refinement. In a perfect world, he would have had more time at Triple A this season. But he was pressed into duty in the big leagues and has a 6.49 ERA in 22 starts. He should be better for the experience next season.
• The Phillies trailed, 6-0, after five innings. They cut the Mets' lead in half with three runs in the top of the sixth, two on a two-run homer by Nick Williams in the top of the sixth. It was the rookie's ninth homer and he hit it good - a 403-foot laser over the wall in right-center.
• Earlier in the day, the Phillies traded recently acquired reliever Juan Nicasio to the Cardinals for minor-league infield prospect Eliezer Alvarez, 22. Baseball America ranked Alvarez as the Cardinals' 10th-best prospect entering the season. Nicaso's time with the Phillies was brief as he was picked up on waivers from Pittsburgh last week. He made two appearances with the Phils and needed just three pitches to earn the win in his first one. "I was going to say he's available today - but not to me," manager Pete Mackanin quipped before the game. "He came in, threw three pitches, got a win and left." The Phillies made a good deal here. They got him for a $50,000 waiver fee and a week of salary. He wasn't in their plans for next season, so they spun him for a player that has some upside and could fit into the rebuild. The loser is the Pirates. They had tried to trade Nicasio but pulled him off revocable waivers when a rival team claimed him. Then they put him in irrevocable waivers and the Phillies claimed him. So the Pirates ended up getting nothing for him while the Phillies picked up a player with a chance.
• Much of the game was played in a chilly rain. The crowd was so small you could hear the infielders snap their gum. As the rain fell steadily in the middle of the sixth inning, the head of the grounds crew brought a computer tablet out to the field so the umpires could get a look at the weather radar. The umpires called for the tarp moments later.
• Odubel Herrera was not in the lineup. He was scheduled to have the day off as part of his recovery from a hamstring strain. He had returned to the lineup on Tuesday. Herrera is scheduled to play the next two games then get another day off before being turned loose. As for Aaron Altherr, also recovering from a hamstring strain: Wet grounds pregame prevented him from going through a scheduled base running test. He hopes to be able to go through the test Thursday in Washington and get some playing time later on this weekend.
• Cameron Rupp did the catching, but before the game Mackanin admitted, "I need to see (Jorge) Alfaro more." So look for Alfaro to get an increase in action as the Phillies get him ready for next season. Alfaro is out of minor-league options and could be the Phils' primary catcher in April.
• The Phillies move on to Washington for four against the postseason-bound Nationals on Thursday night. Here are the pitching matchups:
Thursday night - RHP Aaron Nola (10-10, 3.72) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (11-9, 4.48)
Friday night - RHP Jake Thompson (1-1, 4.50) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (13-5, 2.19)
Saturday night - RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (2-5, 4.74) vs. RHP Edwin Jackson (5-4, 3.29)
Sunday afternoon - RHP Ben Lively (3-5, 3.92) vs. TBA.
