All year long, the Mets’ pitchers have had trouble with homers and walks. Today they gave up 4 HR and 7 BB and wound up on the wrong end of an 8-7 game, which gave the Cardinals the series win.
Carlos Carrasco got the start and he allowed 3 BB and 2 HR in 3 IP. John Curtiss and Adam Ottavino also allowed a walk and a homer in their outings.
The Mets rallied back from a 5-1 deficit to tie the game at 7-7, thanks to a two-run homer by Tommy Pham in the bottom of the fifth. The game remained deadlocked until the ninth inning, when Nolan Arenado hit his second homer of the day for the game-winner.
With Carrasco’s poor outing, Buck Showalter had to go to his pen early. Three relievers combined to allow just one run in four innings, allowing the Mets to get back in the game. But then Showalter made a curious decision. With the game tied, he brought David Robertson in the eighth inning.
Robertson is frequently used in the eighth, especially if the heart of the order is due up for the other team. This time, it was the 8-9-1 hitters for the Cardinals. Robertson needed just eight pitches to retire the side.
But with the heart of the order due up for the Cardinals in the ninth inning, Showalter opted for Ottavino, seemingly because he liked his slider versus Paul Goldschmidt and Arenado. Ottavino retired Goldschmidt but Arenado did not miss a fastball over the heart of the plate.
Brandon Nimmo had two hits, including a two-run double. His second hit was a one-out single in the ninth inning but the game ended when Starling Marte hit into a double play. Marte was 0-5 in the game and in his last 62 PA, he has just 3 XBH and 1 BB. But the announcers keep telling us he’s back.
This game was the story of this season. When we score seven, they score eight. When we score eight, they score nine.
Pham continues to show his value with the way he steps up, and even if Vogelbach hit one nearly to the wall, why is he still on this team? I still don’t get it how so many people are playing significantly worse than they did last year. We remade our pitching staff but not returned a lot of the position players. Still expecting a break out and becoming a dangerous wild card contender. Nice to see Pete back and Lindor to connect again.
Remaining objective and/or optimistic, it is still getting more and more difficult to see this team propel itself back into the mix. The Braves are light years away. They are now buried in the Wild Card race. They now go on the road to the defending World Series champs and their prized pitching staff, and then to the Phillies, who likely haven’t forgotten that sweep in Flushing and will have a chance at payback facing helicopter throwers Carrasco and Scherzer in two of the three. An ugly week should confirm that this year’s edition of the Amazins should be sellers to whatever extent they can. Regardless of the size of the payroll, years like this happen…wise administrations don’t compound it with bad decisions.
Gut Reaction: this was a disturbing loss. They couldn’t put away a struggling team. Carrasco didn’t last 3 innings giving 2 homeruns, the stressed bullpen gave up two more homeruns and the offense put up 7 runs with four players under .700 OPS…..and still lost. The Mets team has suffered a total breakdown this season and this game is the epitome of it all. Now they are going on the road to Houston and Philadelphia and I dread it. They are 5.5 games out of a playoff spot behind 6 teams. Optimistically they might play .500 in the road but they can’t make up ground playing .500.