It is very rare that you can look at an outing for a player and not be able to take any positives out of it. For Zach Wheeler, it was just one of those nights. The Chicago Cubs defeated the Mets 14-3. He was unable to make it through two innings, allowing eight earned runs over 1.2 innings. The most devastating blow was a grand slam surrendered to Ian Happ. Throughout his short appearance, Wheeler showed an inability to close out on batters, which lead to the large amount of base runners he gave up. My gut reaction is that he will bounce back in his next start, as he had a good couple of starts before tonight.
On the offensive side of the ball, results were not much better. The Mets were able to muster three runs off of a first inning Yoenis Cespedes and back to back shots by Neil Walker and Lucas Duda in the ninth. Cespedes had two of the Mets seven hits, as he also hit a single. Juan Lagares and José Reyes each contributed a single and Travis d’Arnaud hit a double to round out the offense. Cespedes was replaced to reduce the risk of injury.
Out of the bullpen, Josh Smoker, Neil Ramirez, and Josh ate the remaining innings for the Mets. Smoker pitched a solid four innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out five. Ramirez then came in to pitch a solid 2.1 innings, allowing an earned run and striking out five. Josh Edgin worked the ninth, allowing a two run home run to Javier Baez.
The Mets look to take the rubber game of the series tomorrow night at 7:10, when Matt Harvey takes on Mike Montgomery.
wheeler would have had a better night if Wilmer turns that very easy double play. lesson learned.. wilmer is 1B and DH… if you play him elsewhere his bat may not make up for his defense.
If pitch counts are of increasing importance in MLB, then it correlates that defense should be of increasing value.
To build a team around pitching and bad defense is a strange idea. You undercut your prime asset.
Tremendous win… they kept playing, a tribute to the Manager and the spirit of the team—with some help from the Cubbies.
Harvey: did a fantastic Bartolo immitation until that Schwarber Missile. Is it a Mid-Season dead arm thing…or is his Arm dead? Shocking low velocity….yet they let him go for a while. What, then, made them pull him—any news or comments made?
PS…tonight in Vegas–Rosario, Evans, Reynold are playing….looks like Cheech is on his way.