The Mets (71-57) were defeated by the Boston Red Sox (59-69) by a score of 6-4 tonight at Citi Field.
Pitching:
Matt Harvey got the start to kick off the weekend series against the BoSox, and did exactly what Mets fans are so accustomed to the dominant righty doing.
Harvey pitched six strong innings, allowing zero runs on only two hits, while walking one and striking out eight.
The Dark Knight was in line for the win, but Logan Verrett forced him to settle for yet another no-decision, as he let up home runs to David Ortiz, and Jackie Bradley to put the Red Sox out front 3-2 at the time.
The Mets were able to knot the game up in the bottom half of the seventh, so the big guns – Tyler Clippard and Jeurys Familia – pitched the eighth and ninth innings respectively, and combined to keep the Sox off the board.
Carlos Torres pitched the tenth inning, and allowed an inside-the-park home run to the first batter he faced, Blake Swihart. After watching the replay, it appeared that the ball did in fact hit above the orange lining on the fence, so it was actually a regular home run, but regardless, a home run is a home run, and it cost the Mets the lead in the late goings.
Jackie Bradley dunked a hit to shallow center field, and Mookie Betts doubled to set the Red Sox up to do some more damage, and damage they did as they were able to tack on two more runs to increase the deficit and chase Torres from the game.
Eric O’Flaherty came on to record the final out of the inning, and was able to induce a fly out to finally stop the bleeding. But it was too little too late, as the Mets failed to rally in the bottom of the tenth.
Offense:
The Mets got on the board first in the fourth inning, after Wilmer Flores hit his 22nd double of the year and scored on a single from Travis d’Arnaud, despite running through the stop sign from third base coach Tim Teufel.
In the fifth inning, David Wright singled, and came around to score after Michael Cuddyer laced a ball into right field that went under the glove of Rusney Castillo. 2-0.
In the seventh inning, Alexi Ogando surrendered two walks and a single to David Wright to load the bases for fan favorite Wilmer Flores, who anti-climatically popped out, but the Mets were able to push across a run, as Ogando walked Travis d’Arnaud to tie the game at three apiece.
Junichi Tazawa came on to shut the door for Boston in the tenth, and immediately let up a single to Wilmer Flores, but got Travis d’Arnaud to hit a comebacker. Tazawa threw wildly to second base trying to turn the play, and while Xander Bogaerts bailed him out and was able to turn two, Tazawa appeared to tweak something on the play.
The Red Sox new closer stayed in the game, but walked four straight batters to force in a run before being replaced with Craig Breslow.
With a glimmer of hope, and Yoenis Cespedes at-bat to greet Breslow, the Mets looked to tie the game up or better yet, win it to increase their seven game winning streak. However, Cespedes flew out to end the game.
Well, the Mets weren’t going to win out. Losses happen, and this hurts because we could have increased our division lead to 7.5 games and we had multiple chances to do serious damage in this game, but thankfully Washington lost too, so no harm, no foul. Get them tomorrow.
On deck:
Jacob deGrom (12-6, 2.29 ERA) will look to even up the series for the Mets tomorrow evening, and will take on Joe Kelly (7-6, 5.18 ERA). First pitch is at 4:10 PM.
