*** Warning – loser’s lament to follow ***
It’s tough to blame the umps when you give up eight runs. But it felt like the umps had it in for the Mets in this game, an 8-4 loss to the Brewers. Milwaukee is now 10-1 against the Mets since the start of 2023.
The Brewers jumped on Sean Manaea for four runs in the first inning, with all four coming on a grand slam. The thing is, with two outs and runners on the corners, a potential inning-ending strikeout was not called. Instead, it was a walk to load the bases. It could have been a 0-0 game instead of a four-run deficit.
In the fourth inning, the Brewers were leading, 5-2. The Mets had two runners on base and Francisco Alvarez was up with a 3-2 count. It looked like a walk to load the bases but it was called strike three. Gary Cohen said the ball was clearly low. Carlos Mendoza was thrown out of the game for arguing, only the second time all year he’s been ejected. Keith Hernandez said he’s never seen Mendoza hot like this.
There were other calls that went against the Mets but those were the two big ones. Combine that with some fluky hits for the Brewers and the Mets not catching a break anywhere in the game and the end result was a loss. A very tough loss.
And if that wasn’t enough, Alvarez had to leave the game with back spasms. And Jose Iglesias got hit by a pitch and was not running well.
The Braves won. And at the time this was written, the Padres held a 5-2 win over the D’Backs. If that score holds, we’ll have a virtual three-way tie among the Mets, Braves and D’Backs. Only two of those teams can make the playoffs.
Why is it losers lament when it’s the truth? That grand slam in the first inning completely changed the game. The Brewers are a very good team, and to give them a 4-0 start at home is tough to overcome. I really didn’t realize how talented they were, but that umpire behind the plate had a bad game. Where are the umpiring grades posted? I’d love to see it if they even write the truth or protect the greater image.
You absolutely have to wash it off and go to the next one. Tomorrow is Quintana against Koenig, a LHP that has a 2.52 ERA. We need the Quintana of the 0.28 September ERA. In Atlanta, it’s Seth Lugo against Aurelio Lopez, who I cannot stand. I don’t know if the Royals have enough incentive to try to keep winning just to avoid the Astros because the three wildcard teams in the American League are set.