Colon handcuffs Phillies again in 3-1 Mets win

NEW YORK - The Phillies couldn't have expected much more from Jerad Eickhoff's first three major-league starts. The 25-year-old righthander logged 19 innings and allowed only six earned runs.

But unfortunately for the rookie starter, his last two outings have come opposite a crafty veteran pitcher the Phillies simply can't hit: Bartolo Colon. They failed to muster a semblance of offense against Colon for the second time in six nights on Monday, this time in a 3-1 loss at Citi Field.

The defeat was the Phillies' 10th straight against the Mets, the first-place division rivals they just can't solve. The losing skid against New York tied a franchise record. (The Phillies also lost 10 straight to the Mets from Sept. 19, 1971, to June 28, 1972.) The season series stands at a lopsided 13-1.

Merely one Phillies base runner (Freddy Galvis) even reached second base against Colon, who allowed only four hits - all singles - and issued just one walk over eight shutout innings. He struck out nine, which matched a season high, punching out the side in the seventh.

"I mean, it's unbelievable," Jeff Francoeur said. "I think the one thing Bartolo does a great job of is, he can hit a gnat's [butt], man. That's his thing. ... When he is locating, games like tonight, it's what you're going to get from him."

The hefty righthander extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings, 15 of which have come against the Phillies.

"You've got to hand it to Colon," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "I've never seen so many guys take bad swings on fastballs because of the above-average movement that he had. So you've got to tip your cap to him. He's got our number."

Colon retired the final 10 batters he faced before giving way to closer Jeurys Familia, who promptly loaded the bases with no outs for Francoeur. Cesar Hernandez scored on Francoeur's double-play groundout.

Drawing perhaps the biggest cheer of the night from the Citi Field crowd, Colon also singled - his career-high seventh of the year - with two outs in the fifth when Eickhoff left an 0-1 fastball over the plate. That extended the inning for Curtis Granderson, who belted a two-run home run to extend the Mets lead to three runs.

Michael Conforto's solo home run to begin that frame broke a scoreless tie. The fifth was the only inning in which the Mets scored against Eickhoff, who surrendered only four hits and threw 92 pitches over an efficient seven innings. He retired the side in order in four of his innings.

"It's a little frustrating," said Eickhoff, whose last start, also against the Mets, was marred by a three-run first inning. "I think it kind of happened last time: They got a hold of some pitches I left over the plate a little bit after falling behind. They were able to square up and do some damage when they could."

Ultimately, though, it was another quality start for Eickhoff. Mackanin praised the pitcher's ability to throw strikes and his demeanor on the mound.

"You give up three runs and pitch seven innings," Mackanin said, "I'll take it every time."

Given Monday's result, the Phillies would need to win each of these team's final five meetings to avoid finishing with their worst season series against the Mets in franchise history. They have lost 13 games to the Mets in six separate seasons, including this season and last.

"Hopefully [Tuesday] night we can find a way to win and give ourselves a chance to take the series," Francoeur said. "But right now, we just need one win against them."

@jakemkaplan