Jacob deGrom: 'I don't think I located one pitch'

PHILADELPHIA -- Jacob deGrom had a rare clunker and the New York Mets still won Monday.

DeGrom allowed a career-high seven runs (six earned) in a career-low 2 2/3 innings in what became a 16-7 win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

DeGrom surrendered homers to Ryan Howard, Cameron Rupp and Domonic Brown as the Phillies built a 7-2 lead. The Mets then rattled off 14 unanswered runs.

“I don’t think I located one pitch,” deGrom said. “All the balls were down the middle and they were getting hit hard.”

Only once in 45 previous career starts had deGrom failed to complete five innings (4 1/3 innings on June 16, 2014 vs. St. Louis). The seven runs surrendered by deGrom matched the total he had allowed in his previous seven starts combined, spanning 48 2/3 innings.

DeGrom’s ERA swelled from 1.98 to 2.29. The outing provided a hit to deGrom becoming the third qualifying pitcher in franchise history to finish a season with a sub-2.00 ERA. Dwight Gooden had a 1.53 ERA in 1985 and Tom Seaver had a 1.76 ERA in 1971.

“I can’t say enough about what the offense did to pick me up,” deGrom said. “I wasn’t very good out there tonight. And they did a great job battling back and getting the win.”