They could have won this game. They should have won this series. But, as has been the case all season, the Mets squandered another quality start from ace Jacob deGrom.
deGrom struck out 12 over seven innings of work, but did allow three earned runs, including a two-run home run to Brock Holt. The Mets got a lucky break with Chris Sale only lasting three innings. They managed to scratch out three runs against the bullpen in the sixth and seventh with Michael Conforto‘s double and Amed Rosario‘s single being the big hits. However, they blew a number of scoring opportunities along the way. Jeff McNeil, Todd Frazier, Kevin Plawecki and Austin Jackson went a combined 1 for 16, stranding 13 runners on base. Jack Reinheimer entered as a pinch runner at one point and got picked off to kill another opportunity.
In the eighth inning, the Red Sox strung together a double and two sacrifice flies to score the go ahead run against Seth Lugo. The Red Sox bullpen held the Mets scoreless the last three innings and the score remained 4-3, giving the Red Sox the game and the series. The Mets will be in Philadelphia for the next three nights against the Phillies. Zack Wheeler will face off against Jake Arrieta in the opener tomorrow at 7:05 pm.
Could’ve, should’ve, would’ve, whatever…
Armed Rosario with a nice game, including a huge clutch hit on the screws in the seventh to tie the game after first two got on but Plawecki (at least he didn’t hit into a DP, which was my fear) and Jackson couldn’t even move a runner up. Next guy up, McNeil, was robbed of a RBI by perfect shifted defense after a fireballing righty wouldn’t throw him a single fastball.
DeGrom looked off all day, but good thing the home plate ump was a cousin or something because he got every close pitch. However, even on his last out, with the go ahead run on second and two outs he threw a fat fastball to Vazquez who only has Monsterous warning track power, thank God.
Phillies tomorrow. Two weeks left. When can we start talking about 2019? I’m cautiously psyched that good things will happen. Can one be cautiously psyched?
well we should be talking about ’19. Bit its too early to be optimistic or pessimistic. We have no clue what will transpire between 1 Oct and 1 Apr. I just find it good to talk ahead, given so little to be interested in with behind.
I don’t think I have ever seen a veteran player strike out on the same pitch over and over like Frazier. If the pitcher has 2 strikes on him all he has to do is throw something off speed , outside that barely reaches the plate much less the catcher. In fairness to him he did make contact today with a weak grounder to 3B and a RISP.
umm
Ike Davis, Lucas Duda
My gut reaction was It was a competitive series but you still have to win it. With deGrom on the mound they should have won. Cespedis is sorely missed. His right handed bat and clutch hitting would have given the Mets a few more wins this year. Reinheimer sabotage his opportunity of being the 5th outfielder in 2019 by being picked off. Not that he had a stronghold on it anyway. We got Philly again and Wheeler to keep rolling.LGM
Interesting that you brought up Reinheimer. When he pinch ran for everyone’s favorite player, I said to myself that he’s the perfect utility guy. Has speed, plays everywhere, if he can hit .250… The pickoff was just anxiety. The other day he leeped way up in the air at SS to rob a bases loaded hit and bail out a pitcher.
But, many good organizations over the years, the 49ers of Bill Walsh, the Cardinals today, the Red Sox today and some others, have a psychological or mental profile they expect their players to have. Can we start grading for Baseball IQ to weed out the imbeciles (Dom Smith)? For years and years we have heard quotes how “baseball is 90% mental”, “baseball is played between the ears”, or as Hernandez tells us often, success and intelligence go hand in hand. If the Mets really were to be innovative, I’d like to see a kinesiologist on their staff and add a sixth tool to the scouting report: Mental preparation. I’d bet they would be much more successful.
“Kinesiology is the scientific study of human or non-human body movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, biomechanical, and psychological dynamic principles and mechanisms of movement.” wiki
Not for nothing, but the final pitch of the game was outside by 6 inches.
Nothing new there. At least a dozen ball and strike calls are missed in. every. single. game.
Pete,
Agreed but that particular pitch was way way outside and it ended the game. Not an excuse for the loss, just a really bad look for MLB.
Love Gus’s last comment about intelligence and TJ, I agree about that last strike call. Also another killed rally I forgot to point out…
Todd Frazier appeared he might have been safe at first on a ground out but was called out. It was at least close enough to challenge and Frazier was screaming for it, but Callaway just let the inning and potential rally end.
I don’t understand. They didn’t challenge the steal attempt when they threw our McNeil the other day and SNY covers him up by not showing more than one replay.