Gut Reaction: Astros 9, Mets 6 (6/29/24)

The Mets got off to a strong start and the chatter was lively and lots of fun. We forgot that there was nine innings in the game and we had no closer. Frambler Valdez who had been 2-0 against the Mets had trouble finding the strike zone issuing three walks, allowing six runs and getting knocked out in the fifth after throwing 95 pitches.

The Astros drew first blood in the second with a solo home run off the bat of Jake Meyers and it started to remind us of last night. The Mets exploded in the second for five runs featuring Valdez fielding a dribbler off the bat of Jose Iglesias and glove shuffling the ball past the catcher to allow a run to score. Iglesias, starting in place of a Jeff McNeil who had gone three for four with a three-run dinger last night, rewarded Mendoza by going three for four and raising his average to .425. The Mets followed up with singles by Harrison Bader and Pete Alonso along with a Brandon Nimmo double, all of which drove in runs. After two innings, the Mets were up 5-1.

Through 3 innings, starter Tylor Megill, who I believe was pitching for a chance to stay in the rotation, threw 43 pitches through three innings with 3K’s and more importantly no walks. In the bottom of the third Mark Vientos crushed a solo shot 429 feet to dead center and the Mets were sitting ahead 6-1. It would be the last run they would score all day.

In the 4th, Megill walked a batter and hit one and both came around to score on a Jeremy Peña double to cut the lead to 6-3. Jon Singleton singled home Peña and suddenly the lead was cut to 6-4. Megill walked two batters in the top of the 5th, but worked his way out of it. Iglesias notched his third hit of the day in the bottom of the 5th to up his average to .436 and knocked out Valdez but they failed to score. Megill came back out for the 6th but was pulled after a one out walk in place of Ty Adcock. Megill finished with 101 pitches, three walks and six K’s, but the four earned runs was still not a good look for this very important outing. Adcock, in his first appearance for the Mets, pitched an inning and a third, giving up one hit and no runs.

The game continued into the 8th with Jake Diekman taking a turn on the mound. It was not memorable as he issued two walks in two thirds of an inning and gave way to Reed Garrett who failed to close the door giving up a hit and two walks. Of the four walks in that inning, three of them scored. A wild pitch brought in the Astros 5th run and then a bases loaded single put them up to stay at 7-6. The Mets didn’t get some close calls on pitches, and the umpiring staff embarrassed themselves losing track of the count necessitating the Astros’ manager to come out which resulted in them needing to go to a replay of the count to confirm the Astros’ contention that the Mets had thrown ball four versus a 3-2 count they had on their clicker. Danny Young came in to pitch and gave up three hits as the Astros climbed to a 9-6 advantage that would be the final score.

The Mets pounded out 11 hits, but only three after the third inning. Lindor, Alonso and Vientos had two hits apiece, Iglesias had three, and Vientos recorded his 10th home run in only his 37th game. I don’t think Megill’s performance was enough to save his roster spot even pitching into the 6th, and would expect he will be sent to Syracuse and either Jose Butto or Christian Scott will come up to take his next turn.

Sticky fingers Diaz’ absence was sorely noted as we did not have anyone to close the door at the end. After knocking out Valdez after 4 2/3, the Astros pen shut the Mets down giving up only 1 hit and 1 walk the rest of the way. Their pen the same kudos that the Mets pen got yesterday. Today Captain Hooks’ moves did not result in a win, but let’s remember that while Mendoza pushes the buttons, it’s his players that failed to come through.

Luis Severino goes tomorrow at a 1:40 start to try and salvage the series and leave the month of June a game over .500. Considering where we started the month, this will have been the second most successful June in Mets history. Thinking a sweep was shortsighted on my part, but a series win is certainly ours for the taking. The Mets hit the road after tomorrow for three against the Nationals, then four versus the Pirates before returning home. Starting July they play 18 straight games against teams who are currently under .500 before two against the Yankees in the Bronx and then four back home against the Braves. If they are ever going to got make a big run towards a wildcard spot and be serious buyers at the deadline, this is the time to do so.