For the second straight night, the Mets dropped a 4-2 decision to the Yankees in the Bronx. The loss meant that the Mets ended up splitting the Subway Series, two games apiece. More importantly, with the Braves beating the Pirates, the Mets lead in the East is cut to two games.
The story of the game was the Mets’ inability to come up with the big hit. And while they’ve had their share of weak contact providing runs this season, tonight was the exact opposite, with some loud contact not providing any results. For the night, the Mets were 2-13 with runners in scoring position. And one of those hits was a Brandon Nimmo infield single in the ninth, which did not score a run.
Taijuan Walker returned to the mound and started off great, retiring the side in order the first three innings. But he ran into lots of trouble in the fourth and was lucky to escape with allowing just two runs, one on a solo homer by Aaron Judge.
Walker had a scoreless frame in the fifth but Buck Showalter went to the bullpen for the sixth, with Judge due up first in the inning. Seth Lugo struck out the first two batters and looked like he was in complete control. But he ran into trouble and needed 21 pitches to complete the inning. The thought may have been to use Lugo for two innings but the high pitch count had Showalter re-think the plan.
For some reason, with two switch-hitters and a righty due up in the seventh, Showalter brought in Joely Rodriguez. It did not go well. Showalter had to bring in Adam Ottavino in an attempt to clean up Rodriguez’ mess and the Yankees score two runs in the inning.
Ottavino ended up pitching the eighth inning, too. If Showalter was ok with using Ottavino in an up/down – why not have him start the seventh?
The Mets had chances with runners in scoring position in the final three frames, including two on and no out in the eighth inning and the bases loaded in the ninth, but failed to push across any runs.
Don’t want to try to figure out Showalter as I gave up some time in June. On the Braves beating the Pirates, after the Pirates sell off I’m sure the tanking is in.
Before the Yankees series I was expecting the Yankees to start having some good fortune as the bad fortune was going on too long for such a good team; happy for them to see them exhale a bit.
Who I’m not happy with is MLB and Lady Luck. The Mets have had one off day in the last 26 working days, and two of those working days involved double headers. Then, to have your starting pitching fall apart in the midst of this… they are lucky to be 18-9 in that stretch. The Braves in that same stretch are 18-7 with a healthy team. They had three off days but have to go to St. Louis this weekend and have a west coast trip next month.
Alonso has really been dragging to the tune of 6-41 and can’t even stay on his feet around the bases! The Dodgers had injuries to their pitching staff too, but they have MLB pitchers clear into their AA team. The Mets on the other hand, bundle them and get rid of them for 36 year old part time DHs, so accumulating depth is just a cool sound bite.
Disappointing game with again the lack of timely hitting. Should have scored in both the 8th and 9th inning. Pete needs a day off. Earlier in the season he would have made that catch in short right. Why didn’t McNeil call him off as he had a better angle or maybe he did but they say it was so loud you could not hear him. Where is the hitting coach to straighten Pete out the bad habits he has fallen into over the last ten days. Great point about the Dodgers and their great farm system. This is why Cohen came up with a 3-5 year plan to make us competitive each year. We just happen to be very good this year but what we can bring up from the farm has been limited and they are not ready. Even Baty seems quite mismatched at the plate and he has been far from sure handed at 3B. Without injuries he would still be at AAA. Every time the Dodgers call up a player they just seem to excel. Perhaps we will be closer to that in year 3 of the rebuild. Thankful for the day off and a swing through lesser teams except for the Dodgers of course. The Mets need to make up ground as depending on the Braves to lose is not in the cards. Still rather be 2 games up then 2 games behind. LGM
Gut reaction: There were plenty of opportunities for the Mets but they didn’t cash in. 2-13 RISP was the evidence that resulted in the loss. Rodriguez was a bad choice In that situation. Showalter was flirting with disaster. It was a real head scratcher. It seemed that Alonso is running on fumes. He was irritable, frustrated (breaking the bat) and also exhausted.
They should get some rest with the off day. Then take 3 out of 4 against the Rockies. LGM
I knew it wasn’t going to end well, when Alonso got tied up on the popup that fell to the ground.