Mets swept by Phillies after blowing four-run lead in painful loss

PHILADELPHIA — In a departure from the script of the past few days, the Mets jumped out to a lead that provided legitimate hope they could survive a game, if not quite turn the proverbial corner.

But what started as promise clarified as a tease.

And for the Mets, what started as a downturn sure is looking like a collapse.

Carlos Mendoza’s group blew a four-run lead en route to getting swept out of Citizens Bank Park, saving their most painful loss of the series for last in a 6-4, knife-twisting defeat Thursday.

The Mets (76-71), who were 45-24 and led the NL East by 5 ½ games on June 12, already have waved goodbye to the division and cling to a 1 ½-game wild-card edge over the Giants and Reds, who were idle.

Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto’s crew will carry a six-game losing streak into Friday, when they will meet Rangers starter Jacob deGrom.

Virtually everything — from yet another too-brief outing from their starting pitcher to defensive miscues to relief issues to an offense that disappeared — went wrong in a loss that might not be the season’s worst but, considering the circumstances and timing, ranks among the season’s most painful.

There was extra pain because there had been belief: The Mets grabbed their first lead of the series by scoring four runs with their first six hitters, the blows RBI knocks from Mark Vientos, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte.

After scoring a combined three runs in four games against Hunter Greene, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez and Christopher Sánchez, the Mets topped that before recording a second out against Jesús Luzardo.

But the Phillies lefty then retired the next 22 Mets in succession in an eight-inning gem in which Mets frustration became evident.

Vientos slammed his bat and helmet after a strikeout.

Jeff McNeil tossed his equipment away after his second strikeout of the night.

Combined with Jhoan Duran’s ninth, when he struck out the side, Phillies pitchers combined for a perfect final eight innings.