The Mets escaped one of the ugliest games of the season with a 6-4 victory over the Marlins. This bizarre game included two new injuries, a costly error, a dazzling defensive play, a pinch-hitting pitcher, and a maddening number of runners stranded on base.
First, the bad news. Yoenis Cespedes was scratched from the game just 15 minutes before the first pitch due to a sore right hip. He is expected to be day-to-day. Juan Lagares, who made a dazzling, run saving play in the field, suffered what appeared to be an injury to his hand on the diving play. He left the game in favor of Alejandro de Aza, who would later deliver a key 2-run double that proved to be the difference in the game.
Bartolo Colon gave us five solid innings in which a solo homer was his only mistake. A second unearned run crossed the plate courtesy of a Kevin Plawecki miscue. Colon exited the game early in favor of a pinch hitter as there were two men on in the sixth, but Ty Kelly grounded out, stranding the runners. This was a familiar theme as the Mets seemed to leave two runners on inning after inning with Plawecki, Michael Conforto, Juan Lagares and Asdrubal Cabrera all failing to come through in big spots.
Thanks to Hansel Robles, who seems to have lost his mojo, the Marlins quickly took the lead in the sixth. While the Mets continued to squander opportunities, relievers Jerry Blevins, Jim Henderson and Addison Reed kept us in the game with 2.1 scoreless innings. Conforto finally broke out of an 0-20 slump to dliver a game tying RBI single in the 8th and then Matt Reynolds gave us the lead for good with a pinch hit RBI single. In the top of the 9th, de Aza came up with the bases loaded and smacked a ground rule double to score two much needed insurance runs. In a last ditch attempt to tack on more insurance, Terry Collins pinch hit for Reed with Jacob deGrom, who promptly popped up to end the rally. It was fun to see nonetheless.
In the bottom of the 9th, Jeurys Familia, who never seems to pitch a clean inning unless there’s a one run lead, promptly gave up a run before shutting it down. James Loney went 3 for 5 with a double and Wilmer Flores contributed three more hits and finally appears to have gotten it going. With all these injuries and slumps, we could sure use his bat.
Nice recap. Within 2 days, the corner infield positions went from a question mark to an asset. Loney & Flores already appeared settled in – the body language says it all… they’re focused in the field and at the plate.
Matt Reynolds shows that he belongs, although the same can’t be said for Ty Kelly. TJ Rivera should be here, not Ty.
Based upon post-game interviews, the injuries to Cespedes and Lagares do not appear serious, thank goodness. Despite his one hit and 2 rbi’s, Conforto looks like he could use a breather.
All-in-all, we are beginning to gel quickly on the fly… a strong rotation will help a team do that.
For me, this is one of the few post-game write-ups that really misses the mark. I thought it was a terrific win with meaningful contributions from so many minor players — the guys the Mets will need to step up. Big hits from Reynolds and De Aza . . . some improved ABs from Conforto . . . more production from Flores and Loney. Encouraging.
Plawecki continues to look like a minor leaguer. Key to this game was the Marlins walking Plawecki in the 9th — an unforgivable mistake, the way he’s been hitting — setting up De Aza’s bases loaded double.
No, not a game I’d put in a time machine, but an important team victory nonetheless, especially the day before they have to face Jose Fernandez.
I enjoyed watching those guys come through yesterday. I suppose it was an important game owing to the circumstances, but I also think it was a game that provides zero predictive evidence over what will happen tomorrow and afterwards. Okay, the Flores at bats and the Conforto at bat I suppose; the rest was a case of take it, but don’t count on more.
Another win by the Replace-Mets. Loney and Flores stepping up is so important during the next six weeks. Reynolds and DeAza with big hits. Lagares with another game saving catch. All these players are not starters, they are Replace-Mets and their contributions show the fight on this team. I hope they can
continue to contribute until the trade deadline.
Robles should be furthur down on the bullpen depth chart and Blevins should be pitching full innings and ahead of Robles and Bastardo.
Rivera should be starting and when TDA gets back Plawecki should go to AAA to find his game. He needs some confidence.
There is a pitcher on the Columbia Fireflies, PJ Conlon, who pitched ten innings last night, with no earned runs reducing his ERA to 1.21. There must be a mistake in the line score because it says 46 pitches, 42 strikes. He has a 7-1 record and no decision last night in this remarkable season. His scouting report is luke warm but his pitching knowledge gets plus reviews. He produces results.
It was 97 pitches.
At the deadline TDA and Duda will be back. Last year Alderson gutted the minors; there isn’t any excess to trade.
Agree completely on the bullpen and Plawecki.
In a game where they scored six runs without the benefit of a homer, it seems odd to complain about LOB.
I’ve generally been in Hansel Robles’ corner but he’s really hurting the team right now. Nearly all relievers go thru bad stretches but this feels like one outing away from either the DL or the minors.
Problem with sending Robles down is the Mets don’t have a decent reliever in AAA.
There’s a shortage of talent on the farm.
Josh Edgin has a 0.00 ERA and a 0.808 WHIP in LVG and Sean Gilmartin has been a successful MLB reliever. Gabriel Ynoa has never been a reliever but he’s certainly pitched well in Vegas, too. If the Mets decide not to make a move with Robles, it will not in any way, shape or form have anything to do with not having someone worthwhile to call up.
Edgin just went to visit the doctor: he’s not right.
Gilmartin is working as a starter now, profiles as a long man, and failed as a late-inning guy last season.
Ynoa? Seriously? In Robles role?
I am not seeing a strong relief candidate down on the farm. I don’t know why you pretend it’s otherwise.
Thanks for the update on Edgin. Blurb I saw said it was nothing serious but given his history….
Yes, Gilmartin is a starter now. But to pretend he’s not a relief option, after working in that role all of last season and in the two games he was up this year, is ostrich-like.
What is Robles’ role? I see no reason why a SP having success in Las Vegas cannot be tried in a low leverage relief role in the majors. Doesn’t mean he’s going to succeed but it’s certainly an option. But he would clearly not be the first choice.
Relievers are the one thing we do have in triple A. Josh Edgin, Erik Goeddel and Sean Gilmartin all have big league experience and Edgin has been lights out. No reason to carry a struggling arm with those three guys waiting in the wings. Wish we had depth like that elsewhere. Robles has been pitching like he’s throwing batting practice. Bastardo has been inconsistent and Henderson can’t throw two days in a row. Might be time to bring up a fresh arm.
Robles looks lost… if he has an option, they need to use it.
The premise that d’Arnaud will return and force a choice at the back-up position is tremendously optimistic. Whether his prior throwing problems were injury related, I don’t know—-but I’m a skeptic going forward about his Catching— His defense is overall a negative, and the throwing is a non-starter….and that’s Pre-Injury.
They need another “corner INF bench piece” almost immediately—- that’s not Kelly, or Campbell or Reynolds. Whether they can “create” that out of Dilson and some other movement is a question…one I feel they need to test now…before the Trade deadline.