Tommy Pham hit a pair of homers that helped the Mets overcome an early four-run deficit, but that was partially overshadowed by a defensive error upfield in a 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday at Citi Field.
Right swinger Pham was in the lineup against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and hit homers in the third and fifth innings in another sign that he might be coming at the plate.
The two-out performance came after he had three hits — including two for extra bases — and four RBIs on May 28.
He’s only started once since that game the day before Sunday, partnering Brandon Nemo – either at the top of the lineup or in the middle.
“When I don’t swing well, I spend hours on it [batting] Pham said. “I didn’t play and look at my hands: they were beaten [and] Sores. You must work if you are underperforming. You have to work your way out of the funk.”
He floated out to lead the bottom of the first inning against Yusei Kikuchi.
So in the beginning, 95-97 [mph] It felt like 105,” Pham said. “After I got out, I went to the batting cages and threw a bout, to say the least. I felt like I wasted my time. I’m glad I found her.”
He was not very well timed on the court.
After Franciso Alvarez grabbed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on first to finish top one, the young catcher attempted to get Matt Chapman to second on third.
But a poor throw was passed by Francisco Lindor, who was covering it, and bounced to left-center.
Pham was slow to get to the ball and Chapman, having edged past Pham’s goal, scored.
Pham blamed the play, saying he thought left fielder Mark was in a better position to make the play.
“I thought Mark had a better angle on the ball,” said Pham, who was shaded to right-center with left-hander Dalton Varshaw at the plate. “I kicked the ball to the left and thought [Canha] He was going to get it. But when I caught a glimpse of him, he was in no man’s land.”
The mix-up gave Chapman a chance to score, although the Mets challenged the play and there was some hope on their part that the call would be overturned.
That wasn’t the case and gave Toronto a 4-0 lead.
“You did a terrible job,” Pham said. “I have to stop assuming and take matters into my own hands there. I could have saved a run, I felt it.”
Perhaps the Mets will at least see Pham turn into the hitter they wanted when they signed him in the offseason.
In his last three starts, he was 5-for-8 with four extra base hits and a pair of walks, taking an OPS of 0.627 to .784.
