The Mets fell behind early and while they battled back nicely against a Giants’ bullpen that stymied them in two games on Tuesday, they could not complete the comeback, as they fell, 5-1 Wednesday night at Citi Field.
Chris Bassitt started and gave up three runs before the Mets came to bat. He’d give up two more, including a solo homer in the upper deck to Brandon Belt. Meanwhile, the Mets had little luck against Carlos Rodon, despite Rodon being unable to get his breaking balls over for strikes. A high pitch count led to Rodon leaving after just five innings.
The Mets rallied for one run in the seventh inning and another in the eighth but it felt like they should have gotten more runs in both frames. The seventh came to an abrupt end when Starling Marte, who drove in the Mets’ first run, was caught stealing in a curious time to be running. If he successfully stole, it would have put two runners in scoring position. But do you really want to be thrown out with Francisco Lindor at the plate and Pete Alonso on deck?
In the eighth inning, the absence of Buck Showalter was really felt. Showalter missed the game for an unannounced medical procedure that was scheduled in advance. Anyway, the Giants had sidearming Tyler Rogers on the mound and the Mets had four LHB to choose to bring in to face him.
The triumvirate of Eric Chavez, Jeremy Hefner and Dick Scott elected to bring in Robinson Cano with two runners on, a man in and one out. Cano, who entered with two hits in his last 20 trips to the plate, weakly grounded out for the second out of the inning. The triumvirate next sent up Dominic Smith, who drilled a ball to the opposite field that 3B Wilmer Flores made a leaping grab of to end the inning.
Then to start the ninth, the Mets brought on Jeff McNeil in a defensive switch. Why they opted not to bat McNeil, who’s hitting .293, is one of those things that just make you go “hmmm.” And not only did they bring him in for defense, they didn’t double switch to get him up to the plate in the 9th, either. They could have double switched with Tomas Nido and inserted McNeil into James McCann’s spot in the order, due up first in the ninth.
In a huge surprise, McCann drew a leadoff walk. But the Mets were unable to do anything more in the inning besides making Jake McGee throw enough pitches that he probably won’t be available on Thursday.
Bassitt righted himself enough to go six innings. Chasen Shreve looked good in the seventh and Sean Reid-Foley looked the best he has all season to date with two scoreless frames. The Mets look to win the series when Carlos Carrasco takes the mound Thursday afternoon.
I hope Showalter is OK.
In his absence, I wonder how much autonomy the trio had. Did they decide to start Davis at 3B? I wonder also if Marte was given the steal sign or if he ran on his own. The Cano decision sure was disappointing and the mistake that led to McNeil not getting an AB at least in the 9th was unfortunate.
Did they also position the infield the way it was in the 1st inning? The booth seemed to think they didn’t play it correctly.
Showalter is on top of every detail and I wonder how this game might have turned out differently had he been on the top step all night.
Hopefully, he’s back in charge tomorrow and Cookie wins the series.
Gut Reaction: They missed Showalter this game. Very strange selection of substitutions in the 8th. Also, Marte’s attempted steal would have no gain in the inning and when he was thrown out it compounded his poor decision. Hopefully the Mets can again take another series by winning this afternoon.
Game of inches right? If the Smith liner is 1 foot higher it’s a 5-4 game with a runner on 2nd and McNeil (likely) coming up to pinch hit for McCann.
We’re in good position to take the series and win 3 of 4 from one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the league.
Flores defense thwarts the Mets, how ironic. Giants and Braves are proof that teams don’t need to have eight all-stars, just need to play inspired, passionately and with smarts.
Agree with both sentences, Wholeheartedly!