Zack Wheeler was just too much for the Mets to handle and they dug too deep of a hole to climb out against even the Phillies’ bullpen, as they lost the final game of four, 4-2. The Mets ended up with a split of the series.
This was the third time this season the Mets had faced Wheeler. They hit him pretty good the first two times but not so in this outing. They put two runners on in the first inning but didn’t do much after that, with Wheeler retiring 11 in a row at one point. His final line was 7 IP, 0 R, 2 BB and 8 Ks.
Meanwhile, Marcus Stroman did not have his best stuff. His defense helped him out in the first, with diving catches by two different outfielders. But the defense would let him down later on, with two of the four runs he allowed being unearned.
The Mets’ pen did another great job, with Corey Oswalt giving four shutout innings and Drew Smith tacking on two more.
Luis Rojas was faced with a tough choice, when Oswalt came to bat with one out in the fifth inning and runners on first and second. He sent Oswalt up to the plate to bunt and it was a successful sacrifice, moving the runners to second and third. But Jeff McNeil flew out to center to end the inning.
You could certainly have used a pinch-hitter in that spot but it’s hard to fault Rojas too much for that decision, given how many games the team has coming up in the next two weeks and a bullpen that’s sort of already taxed.
Rojas did go to the pinch-hitter the next time Oswalt’s spot to come up arrived, sending Dominic Smith to the plate with two outs and a runner on first. To me, this was not the spot to use Smith because there was likely to be a better spot against the Philly bullpen in either the eighth or ninth inning. Smith lined out to end the seventh inning.
Wheeler left the game after seven scoreless innings and the Mets put up solo runs against the Phillies’ pen in both the eighth and ninth. Pinch-hitter Patrick Mazeika ended the game with a groundout.
Gut Reaction: Another split. Four games remaining with division teams on the road this week. Another split would be palpable and 3 of 4 would given them a 8-8 record for the 16 games with division teams. Maybe the overdue bats will awaken.
Rojas made the right move in the 5th. McNeil didn’t deliver. Rojas saved the bullpen for the rest of the week. Rojas should’ve saved Smith later . Tonight a win would be nice in Washington to hold them abay.
Good pitching always silences hitters but the Mets offense has been on quiet mode for weeks. McNeil and Conforto have disappointed since their return and have assimilated into the poor hitting instead of giving the team what we thought would be a boost. Giving up 4 runs should not necessarily translate into a loss unless you are our Mets. At some point the hitters have to take some stress off the league leading pitching staff. Can’t remember another time when we led the league with three strong starting pitchers. I’m thinking that if Cohen wants to continue on his path to rebuild this team we might see some familiar faces moved at the trade deadline and not just prospects. I’m ready. If not for the failings of some of our division rivals, we would likely be looking up at the leaders. Happy to be in first place but want to think we can win some playoff games but there’s much to be done to get there. Bring on the Nats for a single game.
I agree, 6986. The Mets have some nice bargaining chips that other teams would kill to have: Dom, JD, McNeil, Nimmo, even Conforto. This is the time to trade those that simply do not fit. Smith is a fine 1B somewhere (Boston?). JD is an American League star in waiting (Oakland?) Nimmo would ascend in Colorado. Lots of teams would take a chance on McNeil (should the Mets?) finding himself. Conforto is a big big chip into right negotiator’s hands…
Would the Mets offense be any worse without these players… especially if you add a nice hitter or two, the team could really benefit. Build around DeGrom, Walker, Stroman, Carrasco, Thor, Diaz, Lugo, Castro… we need to score 5 runs a game…