The New York Mets (35-50) were defeated today by the Tampa Bay Rays (44-44) by a score of 3-0. The Mets bats looked puzzled as Rays ace Blake Snell was absolutely dealing today.
Pitching:
Steven Matz was engaged in a pitcher’s duel against Tampa Bay Rays starter Blake Snell this afternoon. Matz pitched 6.1 innings, giving up five hits, striking out five, walking three and allowing just one earned run on a misplayed hard-hit grounder to shortstop Amed Rosario.
In the bottom of the seventh, Mets manager Mickey Callaway came out to pull Matz after 110 pitches. Robert Gsellman came on in relief, dealing with a runner on first base, but got out of the inning by inducing a double play to get out of the inning.
Gsellman pitched the eighth inning as well, but didn’t see as strong of results.
With two runners on and two outs, Gsellman was on the cusp of getting out of the inning with Carlos Gomez up to bat. Gomez blooped a single into left field to drive in a run to give the Rays a then 2-0 lead. Gsellman’s final pitching line was 1.2 innings, one earned run, and two punch outs.
Anthony Swarzak‘s woes continued, as he pitched the ninth inning giving up an earned run of his own, and helped pad the Rays lead going into the ninth.
Offense:
The aforementioned Snell was stellar against the New York Mets offense today. New York was able to only register seven hits throughout the whole game. The Mets were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and there were seven runners left on base.
Wilmer Flores went 3-for-4, recording a double and two singles, however, last night’s hero Jose Bautista went 0-for-4 with the old hat trick.
This the seventh time the Mets have been shutout this season.
On Deck:
The Mets will be looking to take the rubber game tomorrow against the Rays. Chris Flexen will toe the rubber for New York. Flexen is 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA in the bigs this season.The Mets will be versing hard-throwing right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Game time is at 1:10 p.m.
