Oh, Noah: Syndergaard chased early, Mets fall

Noah Syndergaard went from dominating the best team in baseball to getting shelled by a division rival.

The Mets pitcher was chased after four innings during the 4-0 loss to the rival Phillies.

Syndergaard gave up two homers, three runs and struck out six.

It matched his shortest outing of the year on April 4 — also against Philadel- phia. The right-hander posted a 5.75 ERA in four starts against the Phillies this year.

“He wasn't missing by much but he was just off the plate all night and they ran his pitch count up,” Mickey Callaway said. “I thought they had a pretty good approach against him again.”

The loss clinched the Mets' eighth losing season over the last decade.

“Over the last two years it's been really difficult as a player,” Syndegaard said of the Mets' second straight losing season.

Zach Eflin and five relievers combined on a six-hitter and Odubel Herrera added two-run homer for the Phillies, who won consecutive series for the first time since July 25 and stayed 5½ games behind division-leading Atlanta.

Seven of Philadelphia's final 11 games are against the Braves, including a fourgame series beginning Thursday night in Atlanta.

Hoskins' opposite-field solo shot against Noah Syndergaard in the first inning was his 32nd homer of the season and 50th in 192 career games. Only Rudy York (153), Mark McGwire (161), Gary Sanchez (161), Ryan Braun (171), Aaron Judge (174) and former Phillies slugger Ryan Howard (182) reached 50 quicker, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The 25-year-old Hoskins later added his 35th double, and Jose Bautista had a pinch-hit RBI double in the fifth off Jerry Blevins.

Eflin (11-7) struck out nine and allowed three hits in five innings. Luis Avilan, Victor Arano and Adam Morgan each went one inning.

Aaron Loup allowed a leadoff single to Jay Bruce in the ninth before Pat Neshek got the final three outs in Philadelphia's 11th shutout. New York (7082) was blanked for the 12th time and assured a second consecutive losing season.

After a monthlong swoon that knocked the Phillies out of first place, they've won four of six and manager Gabe Kapler wants his team thinking playoffs.

Players entering the clubhouse were greeted with a message in both English and Spanish that read, "This is not over. It's going to take hard work, heart and pride. Together we can do this.”

“What I think that we need our players and our staff and everyone under this roof to buy into, is what we can control is our work,” Kapler said. “That is going to give us our best chance to stay in this as long as possible with the potential of finding ourselves in the last couple games of the season vying for a National League East title.”