Photo Credit: Jeffrey Phelps, AP
The Mets (49-55) lost to the Brewers (59-46) by a score of 5-2 on Saturday night at Miller Park.
Jon Niese got the start for the Mets and was pretty good, but not great. Niese allowed 3 runs in 5 innings on 5 hits, 2 walks, and a wild pitch, striking out 4 and throwing 89 pitches.
The Mets scored first in the top of the third when Curtis Granderson doubled and, after a walk from David Wright, scored on a single from Lucas Duda. A wild pitch by Wily Peralta put runners on 2nd and 3rd with just 1 out, giving the Mets a chance to tack on to their 1-0 lead. However, Travis d’Arnaud‘s fly ball to right was not deep enough to score Wright, and Chris Young grounded out to end the inning.
New York scored again in the top of the 5th thanks to a solo shot from Grandy, but Niese began to unravel in the bottom of the frame. Jon allowed a leadoff hit to Mark Reynolds, who switched places with Jean Segura on a fielder’s choice. Segura then stole 2nd, moved to 3rd on a fly ball, and scored on a wild pitch. With 2 out and nobody on, Carlos Gomez singled and came all the way around from 1st to score on a double by Ryan Braun. Braun scored on a base-hit from Jonathan Lucroy, and Milwaukee suddenly had a 3-2 lead.
With Chris Young on 2nd and 2 outs, Terry Collins brought in Bobby Abreu to pinch-hit for Niese, ending the southpaw’s evening. However, when Milwaukee brought in Zach Duke to play the matchup, Terry called Abreu back (I wonder why we always burn our bench so quickly) and sent up Eric Campbell to hit instead. There would be no Soup for Terry in this ballgame, as Campbell whiffed on a 2-2 pitch to end the threat.
It was a day ending in “Y”, so Terry decided to call on Carlos “Were you really surprised to see me?” Torres to pitch the 6th (and more, of course). Torres got 2 quick outs, but surrendered a solo shot to Reynolds to stretch the Brewers’ advantage to 4-2.
Chris Young doubled for the 2nd time in the game (!!!!) with 2 outs in the 8th, but Wilmer Flores was unable to drive him in, surely costing him a chance to escape the bench again over the next week. Torres gave up another insurance run on an RBI double by Khris Davis, who went to 3rd on the throw. Davis appeared to score on an infield hit from Reynolds, but after video review, Reynolds was called out and the 2 teams headed to the 9th with Milwaukee up 5-2.
Francisco Rodriguez came in to seek redemption in the 9th, and much to the relief of his in-laws, K-Rod retired the side smoothly, with an Eric Young double the only blemish. The Mets are now 4-5 on their road trip.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Phelps, AP
The Mets’ starters have been turning in some 5-and-out starts lately, and I don’t like it. Torres had to pitch 3 innings today. He’ll probably be unavailable tomorrow. Of course, he’ll still probably pitch…
Niese was decent, but was a little wild all night long and it ended up hurting him, in the form of walks, wild pitches, and a few hangers. Hopefully he gets his command back soon.
Chris Young had 2 doubles tonight. I won’t get my hopes up for a turnaround, but I still think he is worth a roster spot, at least over somebody like Abreu, who can’t run or field, and isn’t really hitting much anymore, either.
Grandy and Daniel Murphy also put in some nice work at the plate. Unfortunately, New York just couldn’t get many big hits with runners in scoring position tonight. Hopefully the impending return to Citi Field helps the offense out. (I can’t believe I just wrote that).
Only one more game on the road trip. Let’s try to finish the series and the trip with an even record before heading home. I’ll probably try to catch a few games on the homestand before I head off to college, so hopefully the Mets bring their bats to Queens.
Up Next: The Mets will look to earn a split with the Brewers on Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee. Jacob deGrom (4-5, 3.01 ERA) will face Jimmy Nelson (1-1, 5.06 ERA) at 2:10 PM.
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