The Red Sox scored four runs against the Mets’ bullpen late and survived a 30-pitch ninth inning, as they beat the Mets, 6-5, Wednesday night at Citi Field.
Jacob deGrom started for the Mets and was overpowering early, twice registering 101 mph with his fastball. But deGrom started to throw a ton of changeups in the third and fourth innings and it came back to bite him in the fourth. Given an early 1-0 lead, deGrom gave up two runs – and two wild pitches – in the inning.
But the Mets battled back and went ahead 3-2. deGrom settled down after the fourth, abandoning the changeup and going back to his fastball and curve. He had two easy innings but Luis Rojas pulled him after six frames and 88 pitches.
That decision came back to bite the Mets.
Seth Lugo gave up a game-tying homer in the seventh inning. Another Rojas move didn’t work, when he removed Lugo after one inning and brought on Justin Wilson for the fourth time in six games. Wilson got himself in trouble with his command but was also the victim of some bloops and bleeders, which led to three runs by Boston.
The Mets got a run back in the bottom of the eighth inning on a solo homer by Yoenis Cespedes. Brandon Nimmo, who also homered earlier in the game, drew a walk to lead off the ninth. Jeff McNeil followed with another walk and Pete Alonso blooped a single, his fourth hit of the night, to load the bases.
J.D. Davis got an infield hit to bring the Mets within a run. But then the old part of the order came up and couldn’t get the job done. Cespedes went ahead 2-0 but ended up striking out. Robinson Cano, who had two hits, hit a soft liner to end the game.
The Mets had their chances in this game. They left 11 runners on base and hit into three double plays. It’s always disappointing to lose a deGrom start. But deGrom will have to take part of the blame for all of the changeups he insisted on throwing. And Rojas is right there with him, choosing to go to the pen instead of leaving his ace in the game.
At 88 pitches, I can’t put blame on Rojas. We don’t know JDG’s condition because don’t forget, on Saturday, Rojas was going to let Matz get to 100 pitches, so there might have been a reason JDG got pulled. Overusing Wilson however, is a different story. Still, the Mets lost because Devers was able to keep Davis’ hit in the infield and almost got an out but couldn’t get the ball out of his glove, and Céspedes missed a 2-0 cutter that was belt high on the outer part of the plate. He has to kill that pitch. Conforto struck out in the ninth with the bases loaded right before Davis’ hit and of course you mentioned Cano’s at-bat. They had their chance there at the end and couldn’t execute.
Gut Reaction: lost opportunities
Five runs, fifteen hits and the best pitcher in baseball pitching and the Mets still lost. Only Eighty eight pitches with a one run lead is not the time to pull deGrom.
In a game like when Lugo enters in the seventh inning then this he should be used in multiple innings.
Seven runners left in scoring position.