Marcus Stroman again failed to deliver a strong outing, giving up five runs in four innings, as the Mets dropped the middle game of the series to Philadelphia, 5-0, Saturday night at Citi Field.
Stroman served up a gopher ball to the game’s first batter and had the bases loaded with one out before getting out of the jam when he caught a line drive back up the middle. He seemed to settle down the next two innings but then the wheels fell off in the fourth inning.
J.D. Davis dropped an easy fly ball to start out the frame. And then Stroman allowed hits to four of the next five batters and just like that it was 5-0.
The Mets had multiple opportunities to score early in the game but couldn’t cash in. The most disappointing was in the bottom of the first inning. The Mets had the bases loaded and Todd Frazier drilled a ball into the gap that looked like it was going to be a bases-clearing double. But the right fielder sprinted and made a leaping grab to end the threat.
On an otherwise bleak night, the highlight was the five scoreless innings turned in by the pen. Daniel Zamora had the fifth, Walker Lockett pitched two strong innings, Jeurys Familia and Tyler Bashlor finished it out.
Also noteworthy in the game was the first appearance by Jed Lowrie, who struck out as a pinch-hitter.
This Smyly person came into the game with an ERA of 6+, and twirls a shutout.
But but but the Mets can still do it…
Not excusing Stroman’s performance or Davis’ error, but how does a competing team not muster even a single run off Drew Smyly?