Watching the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader on SNY, a stomach-turning graphic came onscreen: since 2012, the Mets had gone 42-18 at Citizens Bank Park. Even considering how bad the Phils have been over most of that period, and that the Mets had a pennant winner and another playoff team in there, that’s one ugly number—the long-term analogue to the grotesquerie of that 24-4 throttling in the first game.
Then again, the Phillies didn’t have an ace for most of that time. They’ve got one now, as Aaron Nola reminded everyone again on Friday night.