Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The 2021 season has not been easy for Mets starter Carlos Carrasco. First inning woes have been a constant. He has had ten starts under his belt since returning from injury, but his 14.44 ERA in the opening frame is discouraging. All of the other innings show a considerable decrease in a 2.60 ERA, which obviously confirms he has gotten into his groove. In his last seven games, Carrasco has thrown 35 1/3 innings, allowing 33 hits, 19 earned runs, 10 walks, 33 strikeouts and a 4.84 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
Tonight was no different with first inning issues. His only two runs allowed were Jean Segura’s home runs in the first and third inning. He gave up just three hits and two walks over the rest of his start.
It was a strong effort overall. He was taken out after the sixth inning with 82 pitches for valid reason: an injured finger. “I couldn’t hold the ball,” Carrasco said.
“He could’ve kept going, but his thumb was killing him because of a foul ball in his last at-bat,” manager Luis Rojas said. “That’s why he couldn’t keep going.”
Rojas said the team fully planned on letting Carrasco continue to pitch.
Carrasco has been doing a fine job for this Mets team who is struggling in the absence of Jacob DeGrom. He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his past six starts, three of which the Mets have won.
“If you take away those two bad pitches, the two homers, I feel really good,” Carrasco said. “I feel great about this start tonight.”
Carrasco’s final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.
When Carrasco came out, the game got away from the Mets. Brad Hand (1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) came relieved Carrasco in the seventh, and Trevor May (2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) finished the inning but they combined to allow three runs. In the eighth, Miguel Castro (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) fought hard and finished without giving up any runs. Juerys Familia (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) then pitched the ninth and had a 1-2-3 inning. The Phillies went on to beat the Mets for the sixth straight time at Citi Field.
Final score: Phillies 5-3
