Rumors of Clayton Kershaw’s demise were greatly exaggerated, as he pitched into the seventh inning and allowed just two runs, helping the Dodgers take the opening game of the series, 9-2, Friday night at Citi Field. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Mets.

Noah Syndergaard made his first start since his latest plea to have Tomas Nido or Rene Rivera catch him rather than Wilson Ramos. And in the battle of the idioms, the Mets decided to cut off their nose to spite their face rather than to let the tail wag the dog, as they had Ramos in the lineup.

Syndergaard got through the first three innings but things fell apart in the fourth. With one out, he allowed a 10-pitch walk and then three straight hits, the final one a three-run homer to put the Dodgers up, 4-1. He got out of the inning and pitched one more before being removed. His final line was 5 IP, 4 ER.

With Ramos catching him, Syndergaard has allowed 56 ER in 96 IP for a 5.25 ERA.

The Mets had two chances to get back in it. In the fourth inning trailing, 4-1, the Mets had two runners on base and Todd Frazier at the plate. Kershaw was trying to bust him inside. He got a call on a pitch that appeared to be inside but then threw three straight balls. With a 3-1 count, Kershaw served up (for him) a very hittable pitch in the middle of the plate that Frazier missed and popped up to third.

Then in the seventh inning, down six runs at this point, the Mets loaded the bases with one out but were only able to plate one run.

With the Mets forced to go to their “B” relievers, the bullpen allowed five runs in four innings. But at least it was a solid outing for Jeurys Familia, who went 1.2 IP and allowed only a cue ball down the third base line that beat the shift for a single. Unfortunately for him, Luis Avilan came on immediately afterwards and allowed the inherited runner to score.

6 comments on “Gut Reaction: Dodgers 9, Mets 2 (9/13/19)

  • NYM6986

    With all their offense they should have given Thor a shot with a different catcher. I’m sure it was not Ramos’ fault that Thor fell apart but they messed with his psyche and that was that. Then you can’t make mistakes with the Dodger’s lineup so most of our pen was in trouble before they got to the mound. Another strong outing by Familia is encouraging. Is anyone working with Diaz to change something-anything? Jake and Wheels up next and don’t bet against taking the next two. It’s time we scored some runs for Jake. Chin up Mets fans.

    • Jack Vobis

      don’t you think part of the reason deGrom gets no run support is that Nido catches him? “Thor” needs to suck it up and act like the pitcher he was in the 2015 World Series…pitch to the glove, no matter who is holding it.

      .

      • Brian Joura

        Given that Ramos has caught 19 of deGrom’s starts this year, it seems Nido has next to nothing to do with Jake’s lack of run support.

  • Michael

    Not that it determined the outcome but why didn’t they leave in Familia? The guy was pitching well and had thrown only 25 pitches.I trust him a lot more than Avilan. LHB or not.

  • NYM6986

    Scherzer and Strasburg could somehow pitch to Ramos and did not complain about it. Thor did give credit for his pitch calling and acknowledged it was his own doing when things went awry. That being said, still believe there would have been no issue to start Rivera, also no real bat, just to see how it went. It’s about winning at this stage of the game not about hurt feelings.

    • Brian Joura

      Perhaps the best way to look at this situation is as one that’s pro-Nido rather than anti anyone else. The past two seasons when Nido has caught Syndergaard, he has a 2.17 ERA. When anyone besides Nido has caught him, Syndergaard has a 4.70 ERA.

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