The Brewers scored two two runs in the top of the tenth to beat the Mets, 4-2, in ten innings on Saturday at Citi Field.
Aaron Harang made his fourth start of the season for the Mets and it was undoubtedly his best and probably his last too. The veteran righthander allowed just one run – a solo homer by Carlos Gomez – in his six innings of work. Harang allowed five hits, waled two and struck out seven. He pitched good enough to win, but the Met bats were silent.
Pedro Feliciano and David Aardsma combined for a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh. Vic Black struggled in the eighth inning when he loaded the bases on two hits and walk before Yuniesky Betancourt hit a sac fly to left that scored Jonathan Lucroy to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Mets first run came in the fourth when Daniel Murphy hit a sac fly to score Lucas Duda. Murphy had another great game going 2-for-3 with a walk and he also swiped his 22nd base of the season.
The Mets rallied to tie the game in the ninth inning after Eric Young Jr. followed up a pair of walks to Zach Lutz and Andrew Brown with a game-tying single to plate Matt den Dekker who pinch ran for Lutz.
But with the winning run on third and one out, David Wright grounded into an inning-ending double play to send the game into extra innings.
However, the Mets comeback was short-lived as reliever Scott Atchison quickly allowed a pair of runs in the top of the 10th to secure the victory for the Brewers.
Save and a Beauty: Juan Lagares earned his 14 outfield assist of the season to extend his franchise rookie record. Lagares threw out Jonathan Lucroy trying to score from second base on a Scooter Gennett sixth-inning single. Thirteen of Lagares’ outfield assists have come as a center fielder, tying the franchise single-season record also accomplished by Del Unser (1975) and Carlos Beltran (2006), according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Picky Situation: The Mets clinched a top-10 pick, ensuring they will not have to forfeit their first selection in next June’s draft no matter which free agent they sign this offseason. That said, a team source said the Mets will not pursue any player that will cost them a first or second round pick.
I’m With 28: Daniel Murphy has now hit in ten straight games, going 14-for-39 (.374) and is hitting .339 (40-118) with 19 runs scored, 11 doubles and 19 RBI since August 28. He is second in the NL with 187 hits and is eighth with 92 runs scored.
Quick Note: With Saturday and Sunday uncounted, the Mets’ announced paid attendance this season is 2,064,440. Adam Rubin reported that the Mets’ average attendance of 26,467 ranks 21st in MLB.
Here is a breakdown over the last three years. The percentage reflects the change from the previous season which shows just how badly the team is hemorrhaging.
2013: 2,064,440, TBD, 21st
2012: 2,242,803, -5.7%, 17th
2011: 2,378,549, -7.1% , 14th
2010: 2,559,738, -18.8%, 12th
2009: 3,154,270, -22.0%, 7th
2008: 4,042,047, +4.9%, 2nd
On Deck: Tomorrow is a big day as catcher Mike Piazza is inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame. MMO will have three of our writers on hand for all the festivities. We’ll have Clayton Collier covering Piazza’s press conference and blogging the day’s events, John Delcos will be providing analysis from the press box, and Ed “Rusty” Marcus will be capturing some video as the Mets close out the 2013 season. Lefthander Jon Niese (8-8, 3.74 ERA) will oppose right-hander Marco Estrada (7-4, 4.02) in the season finale at 1:10 PM.
