BUM DEAL FOR WHEELS

Met bats go quiet behind Zack

PHILADELPHIA – After squeezing out a win in the opener of their three-game set against the division-rival Phillies, the Mets lost the next two games and dropped a second series of the year.

Zack Wheeler (1-2) was on the receiving end of a lack of run-support during the Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Phillies on Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

It was a productive effort from Wheeler, who kept the Mets in the game by striking out five and allowing three earned runs on five hits with three walks over seven innings.

But the Mets offense was silenced by 2015 Cy Young award winner Jake Arri- eta, who pitched into the ninth inning. The Mets were able to scrape just six hits off the right- hander, but only two escaped the infield.

Michael Conforto crushed his fifth homer of the season, and second of the series, in the seventh inning. Conforto raised his OPS to 1.070 to continue his promising start to the year. But his was the only Mets hit that had any potency to it.

“We had opportunities all game and just didn’t come up with enough runs,” Conforto said. “We gotta do a better job, and when we see them in New York, we gotta put it all together. Pitching, hitting, defense, we just gotta do more.”

Wheeler’s ability to limit runners on the basepaths, after issuing seven walks against the Nationals two starts prior, was especially encouraging. Uncharacteristic for Wheeler, though, were his two home runs allowed.

He gave up solo shots to shortstop Scott Kingery and second baseman Cesar Hernandez.

Hernandez battled through an 11-pitch at-bat in the second inning and eventually earned a walk. He flew out to right the next time out, then parked a 393-foot homer to right-center in the sixth.

Wheeler was just the third Mets starter over the team’s first 18 games to get through seven innings pitched.

“The pitch Kingery hit was left up, and probably a dumb pitch to Hernandez,” Wheeler said. “I was throwing a backdoor slider and it just came right back over the middle. I think those are just two mistakes that really cost me, and cost the team a win. But other than that, I did well.” The Mets had a come-from-behind rally brewing in the final frame, but fell just short.

Rookie Pete Alonso forced Arrieta out in the ninth by hustling for a leadoff infield hit. The Phillies’ (11-6) fate was turned over to Adam Morgan, who hit Robinson Cano to put the tying run on first base.

Conforto battled against Morgan, but flew out to right. It was the only out Morgan recorded before closer Hector Neris came in. Neris awarded Amed Rosario another infield single to trim the Mets’ deficit to 3-2, then hit Wilson Ramos on the catcher’s left arm to load the bases.

With two outs, the game was in the hands of Keon Broxton. The outfielder worked a full count before Neris got him to swing on a 94-mph fastball in the middle of the plate.

“(Morgan) definitely gave me some pitches to get in there and do damage with,” Conforto said on his ninth-inning at-bat. “I just didn’t stay in there and put a good swing on it.”