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 miscue in center field in a 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday at Citi Field.
The righty-swinging Pham was in the lineup against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and hit solo homers in the third and fifth innings in another sign that he may be coming around at the plate.
The two-homer performance came after he had three hits — including two for extra bases — and four RBIs on May 28.
He’d started just once since that game before Sunday, as he filled in for Brandon Nimmo — both at the top of the lineup and in center.
“When I’m not swinging well, I’m spending hours in that [batting] cage,” Pham said. “I haven’t been playing and look at my hands: they’re beat up [and] blistered. You’ve got to work if you’re underperforming. You’ve got to work your way out of the funk.”
He whiffed to lead off the bottom of the first against Yusei Kikuchi.
“That first at-bat, 95-97 [mph] felt like 105,” Pham said. “After I struck out, I went into the batting cages and threw a fit, to say the least. I felt like I lost my timing. I’m glad I found it.”
His timing wasn’t as good in the outfield.
After Franciso Alvarez picked off Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first to end the top of the first, the young catcher tried to get Matt Chapman at second in the third.
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But a poor throw went by Francisco Lindor, who was covering, and bounced into left-center.
Pham was slow to get to the ball and Chapman scored, just beating Pham’s throw home.
Pham took the blame for the play, saying he thought left fielder Mark Canha was in better position to make the play.
“I thought Mark had a better angle at the ball,” said Pham, who was shaded to right-center with the left-handed Daulton Varsho at the plate. “The ball kicked to left and I thought [Canha] was gonna get it. But when I peeked over, he was in no man’s land.”
The mixup gave Chapman a chance to score, although the Mets challenged the play and there was some hope on their side that the call would be overturned.
It wasn’t and it gave Toronto a 4-0 lead.
“I did a terrible job,” Pham said. “I’ve got to stop assuming and take matters into my own hands there. I could’ve saved a run, I felt like.”
Perhaps the Mets are at least seeing Pham turn into the hitter they wanted when they signed him in the offseason.
In his last three starts, he’s 5-for-8 with four extra-base hits and a pair of walks, taking his OPS from .627 to .784.
