The Las Vegas 51s Mets lost to the Phillies 10-8 tonight at Citi Field. So close…
Boy oh boy. Where do we start? This one started off a laugher as Sean Gilmartin, newest member of the Mets’ MASH rotation, was the one to finally fall through the thin ice they’ve avoided cracking somehow thusfar. He started the game with a leadoff walk, then a single. After getting a close out, in which Lucas Duda needed dive to get to first on time, he gave up a three-run homer to Maikel Franco (his third in three games). Then he walked another followed by a single. After an intentional walk to get to the pitcher, he gave up a two-run single to said pitcher. He lasted .2 innings.
What would be your nightmare scenario here? You probably said Rafael Montero in to relieve Gilmartin, right? Haha! Wouldn’t that be crazy? Yes it would. So yeah Terry brought in Montero to relieve Gilmartin. Truth be told, despite some shakiness to start he seemed to settle in and even struck out seven Phillies. The wheels fell off in the fourth, though, as he gave up five runs capped by a Darin Ruf three-run homer. At that point the Mets were down 10-0, and Terry (rightfully) decided to give some of his regulars some rest and pulled out Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson, Jose Reyes, and Asdrubal Cabrera. That’s when things got interesting.
The replacements, Gavin Cecchini, Brandon Nimmo, T.J. Rivera, and Ty Kelly were having none of that rolling over nonsense. Some sloppy Phillies play in the fifth, including two errors, aided the Mets in scoring four runs. All four of the previously mentioned 51s had a hand in it. It was almost a ball game. They got two more in the sixth on an RBI double by Cecchini (his first MLB hit) and an RBI single by Rivera. They got one more in the eighth, also on an RBI double by Cecchini. Unfortunately, Nimmo was unable to come through with runners on second and third and two outs. That might have been it, but they made it interesting in the 9th as well. After a solo homer by pinch hitter Jay Bruce (!), Eric Campbell and Michael Conforto walked to bring the tying run to the plate with one out. But Duda popped out and Travis d’Arnaud ended it with a come-backer right at the pitcher. Almost.
It was a heck of a try, though, and a very entertaining game despite its abysmal start. The Mets finish up the series with the Phillies tomorrow afternoon, their final home game of the season.
It was an opportunity to see the kids, and they looked good. Campbell stinks, unless you need a walk. Kelly is a little better. Cecchini has a great stroke and that Nimmo kid…had he gotten that base hit Rob was referring to, Citifield would have blown up. However, Rivera batting right before Nimmo hit a shallow fly ball to center and TDA couldn’t tag to score. So, a run was lost there.
Glad to see Bruce get involved; want to see him tomorrow. Conforto still chasing low sliders. Come on dude, relax at the plate. Bruce seems to be stronger than Duda, but can sure use an offseason session with Barwis.
We’ve got heart, guts and momentum. Seth Lugo is now our #3 starter. At the start of the season it was Noah Syndergaard.
Really off topic, but waking up this morning to this:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/09/jose-fernandez-dies-in-boating-accident.html
What a shock and a terrible loss for baseball. This is the first I heard this.
I read the link quickly, saw the “Fernandez” part and not the “Jose” part and my first thought was Sid.
Sean Gilmartin had gone seven relief appearences without giving up a run so I was hoping for a Ynoa type game with maybe an extra inning or two. Didn’t happen! Montero, with no pressure on him, couldn’t keep it close. He has no Met future. At 10-0, and the starters pulled, I am still watching and as they start to comeback I am being totally entertained. Totally entertained! They make you want to root for them. I really like this group that Sandy put together and Terry encourages. A win today takes the series, then a difficult two of three wins in Miami and two of three in Philly. Lets Go Mets!