The Mets’ bullpen again gave up a bunch of runs late, leading to a 7-4 loss to the Cubs Monday night in Chicago.
After a Kevin Plawecki homer in the top of the seventh inning tied the score, Jerry Blevins came on to start the bottom of the inning and proceeded to allow three straight hits. He left the game having allowed one run and with runners on the corners. Drew Smith allowed one of the two inherited runners to score. Daniel Zamora came on in the eighth inning and surrendered a homer to Anthony Rizzo for the final run.
The Mets loaded the bases in the ninth inning but Amed Rosario and Austin Jackson both went down on strikes to end the game. Jackson was the recipient of at least one bad call and after the third strike he had an extended conversation with the home plate umpire.
Noah Syndergaard started for the Mets and gave up four runs in the first three innings. He gave up eight hits and two walks in the first three frames, including a two-run single to opposing pitcher Jon Lester. No stolen bases happened in those innings and Syndergaard actually picked off a runner in the first. He did allow a stolen base to Daniel Murphy in the sixth inning but the Cubs did not score in that frame.
Opposing batters now have a .347 BABIP against Syndergaard and they’re bunching those hits together. After giving up eight hits in the first three innings, Syndergaard held the Cubs to one hit over his final three frames. He now has a 2.62 FIP compared to a 3.51 ERA.
Michael Conforto hit a monster home run to center field and Rosario had two hits, a run and an RBI to pace the Mets’ offense.
The last pitch of the game was by no means a strike. And it wasn’t really close. Once again, an obvious missed call by a home plate umpire. Happens game, after game, after game, after game, after game, after game.
MLB’s justification for replay, always explained as a desire to “get the call right,” is a boatload of crap, as long as they allow obvious missed ball and strike calls to occurred unfettered numerous times every day.
My gut reaction is the Mets are now a competitive team. They were in the game right to the end. I like Calloway philosophy with rests. But McNeil is being rested too much. When I look at Rosario, I see a young Jose Reyes in his second year. To me it is deja vu all over again. until Cespedes comes back, I could easily have Jackson or Lagares start in center field. Looking forward in 2018, I can see the Mets in a playoff.