The New York Mets (55-52) were defeated by the New York Yankees (54-53) by a score of 9-5 Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Offense:
The game got off to a roaring start, thanks to Curtis Granderson who launched the second pitch of the game for a “Yankee Stadium home run,” 316 feet to the 315 sign in right field. Neil Walker singled, Yoenis Cespedes singled, and Jay Bruce walked to load the bases with nobody out. James Loney then singled to center, scoring Walker and giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. Michael Conforto then struck out and Wilmer Flores grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
After the Yankees took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second, the Mets chipped away at Yankees’ starter Chad Green some more, as Kelly Johnson led off the 2nd with a double past a seemingly confused Mark Teixeira. Rene Rivera then lined a single to center, scoring Johnson from second.
More offense came in the 3rd inning. With one out, James Loney lined a single to center field, but the ball got by Jacoby Ellsbury and Loney advanced to second. Michael Conforto then walked, but the third double play Green had induced ended the threat.
There were some hits in between, but the Mets really threatened again in the top of the 7th inning. Curtis Granderson walked, Neil Walker bunted for a single, and Yoenis Cespedes reached on a fielding error by third baseman Chase Headley to load the bases with nobody out. After Jay Bruce struck out, James Loney grounded out to first base, scoring Granderson from third and trimming the Yankee lead to 6-4.
Reliever Luis Severino was brilliant for the Yankees in relief, tossing 4.1 innings allowing one unearned one on only one infield hit and one walk. However, he was relieved by Tyler Clippard for the 9th, and after striking out Curtis Granderson, Neil Walker lined a solo home run to right field, trimming the Yankee lead to 9-5, but that wasn’t enough as Jay Bruce grounded out to end the game.
Pitching:
Steven Matz was greeted rudely, as the Yankees scored three runs in both the first and second inning. Doubles by Chase Headley and Didi Gregorius were the culprits in the first inning, and another “Yankee Stadium home run” to right field off Mark Teixeira‘s bat scored three in the 2nd. However, he settled in and ended up going six innings, allowing only those six runs on six hits while striking out six. He walked one.
Hansel Robles came in for the 7th innings, the Mets losing 6-4 at that point. A single and a double put him in immediate trouble, with runners on second and third with nobody out. He struck out Jacoby Ellsbury looking at a 99 mph fastball on the outside corner for the first out. Rob Refsnyder hit a sacrifice fly to center for the second out, giving the Yankees a 7-4 lead.
He then walked Mark Teixeira and Chase Headley to load the bases with two outs, before Starlin Castro tapped a ball to Wilmer Flores and beat it out for an infield it, scoring a run.
Josh Edgin replaced Robles, pitching for the first time in forever. He walked Didi Gregorius on four pitches, scoring a run. Erik Goeddel came in an induced a flyout to end the inning, Yankees leading 9-4. He then pitched a perfect 8th as well.
Notes:
Verizon Trivia Question: Who was the first player to wear #17 as a Met?
In the third inning, Jay Bruce hit a routine ground ball to second base, but was hustling down the line all the way and was thrown out by only a hair. He took Starlin Castro by surprise and nearly beat it. That’s great to see.
Steven Matz hit Mark Teixeira with the first pitch in his next at bat after hitting the home run. The ball hit Tex in the leg and he took exception to it, strolling towards the mound. No punches were thrown as Rougned Odor was not present.
When Hansel Robles loaded the bases in the 7th, Mark Teixeira was on second base. Robles thought he was stealing signs, so he repeatedly called Rene Rivera out to the mound. Teixeira ended up mocking Robles when he was on second base, and Robles was noticeably pissed. After Starlin Castro got his infield hit and Robles was taken out, Robles was jawing at Tex at third base, until the third base umpire told Robles to get off the field.
Even though the Mets scored 5 runs, there were plenty of missed opportunities early in this game.
The Mets have not won back-to-back games since the All Star break.
Verizon Trivia Answer: Don Zimmer (1962) – He was the first ever third baseman for the Mets. He went 4-52 (.077) including 0-33 to end his Mets career and was traded to Cincinnati.
On Deck:
The Mets will send Bartolo Colon (9-6, 3.58 ERA) to face off against hard-throwing Nathan Eovaldi (9-7, 4.78 ERA) in the Bronx at 7:05 PM.
