In a game that featured a combined 26 hits and 14 runs, some would think pitching was not as much as a factor in this game, however once the starters were removed, Baltimore’s bullpen was able to silent the Mets bats.
The battle of starters trying to remain in the big leagues took place tonight in Baltimore. Ariel Jurado and Asher Wojciechowski faced off at Oriole Park at Camden Yards Tuesday evening, and hits were not hard to find. If defense and pitching is what fans were looking for going into this game, they may have changed the channel.
The Orioles kicked off the scoring with three-run first inning, with a bomb to centerfield off the bat of Renato Nunez, but the Mets answered with three of their own in the top of the second inning. Both starters calmed down as the third inning came, both recording 1-2-3 innings. Jurado struggled with keeping his fastball/sinker combination to stay in the zone, and when they were, the Orioles did not miss them.
Franklyn Kilomé replaced Jurado in the fourth, and showed some promise. For the most part, he was locating his fastball, that lacks in speed but with location, can be very effective. However what got hurt Kilomé were the off-speed pitches hung over the middle of the plate, which resulted in extra base hits, and balls leaving the bean box that is Camden Yards.
Andres Gimenez recorded his first major league home run of the season in his 65th career MLB at bat, which thanks in part to some good juju from Gary Cohen, who called his home run on the SNY broadcast.
Franklyn Kilomé was the pitcher of record tonight, taking the loss after Jurado was given a no decision. Thomas Eshelman was given the win for Baltimore.
Offense
The Baltimore Orioles sent right-hander Asher Wojciechowski to the mound, and started the game off with facing a plethora of lefties.
Brandon Nimmo has continued to be an on base machine, leading off the game with a single. Michael Conforto was up next, and grounded into a 5-6-3 double play, Dom Smith, who came into Tuesday night’s game second in the National League in slugging percentage followed Conforto, and looked foolish on a strikeout. Wojciechowski handled the top of the first frame of all lefties well.
Robinson Cano led off the second inning with a bloop single to right field, the 37 year-old has been having a fantastic bounce back season. Jeff McNeil followed Cano with a screaming double down the right field line, putting runners on second and third with nobody out for Pete Alonso, who flies out to centerfield, bringing home Cano. Luis Guillorme lines a single up the middle, bringing McNeil around to score. The once perceived defensive minded infielder has been a nice surprise offensively this year. Andres Giminez battled with Wojciechowski, ultimately striking him out. Ali Sanchez, who has struggled at the plate early in his big league career works a walk against Wojciechowski, bringing Nimmo to the plate, grounding out to end the inning.
Conforto started the third inning off by ripping one back at Wojciechowski, but he was able to put a glove on it. Smith grounded out to Valaika for the second out of the inning. Robinson Cano was the next man up, and he launched his 16th home run in Camden Yards over the right field fence, McNeil followed with his second hit of the game, a single into right field. Alonso flew out to center to end the inning.
Luis Guillorme started the top of the fourth inning with a strike out. Giminez then followed Guillorme with a fly out right field, Wojciechowski looked to have found himself as he got Sanchez to strike out as well to end the fourth inning.
Nimmo made solid contact leading off the fifth inning, leading Santander to the beginning of the warning track for the first out of the inning. Conforto blooped one in over Ruiz’s head. Dom Smith struck out for the second time of the game, leaving two outs with a runner on first for Robinson Cano. The second baseman was caught out in front a bit, flying out to Mullins to end the inning.
Thomas Eshelman came in and replaced Wojciechowski to start the top half of the sixth. Although Jeff McNeil flew out to left field to lead off the inning, he really has been getting through the baseball more, driving balls to all parts of the field. Alonso proceeded to ground out to third, two quick outs for Eshelman. Guillorme didn’t let them go down 1-2-3, pulling a ball through the second base hole with two outs, followed by the first big league homer of Andres Giminez’s career, tying the game at five. Sanchez flew out to Santander in right to end the inning.
Left hander Paul Fry comes in to face the lefty heavy line up in the top of the seventh, but Brandon Nimmo beat out a dribbler down the third base line to lead off the inning. Conforto hit a screamer up the middle, but Velasquez was shifted perfectly, recording the first out of the inning. Fry got Smith to record his first third strike out game of the season. Cano hit a ground ball to third, however Ruiz went the easy way to second to end the inning.
In the top of the eighth inning with the Mets trailing by four, Jeff McNeil tallies his third hit of the game, a single off Hunter Harvey. He seems to have figured out what was haunting him early on. Alonso forces Santander back to the warning track, but the right fielder was able to put it away for the first out of the inning. Luis Guillorme couldn’t catch up to a fastball from Harvey, striking out for the second out. Gimenez was retired on a fastball looked at down the middle to end the inning.
Tanner Scott entered the game to try to put the Mets away. J.D. Davis got the ninth inning started, pinch hitting for Sanchez, who softly grounded out to Valaika. Wilson Ramos pinched hit for Nimmo, and was called out on a review of a play at first base. Conforto forced Mountcastle to the wall, but was able to haul it in to end the game.
Pitching:
Ariel Jurado made his debut for the Mets tonight, he was acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers in last month. He is the tenth Mets starting pitcher to toe the rubber this season.
In the first inning, Jurado featured his fastball early against Cedric Mullins, and placed a nice bunt down the third base line, and there was no chance to get the speedster. It was Mullins seventh bunt hit of the year. Anthony Santander followed the Mullins single with a pop up to Luis Guillorme. Jurado had some control issues early, missing consistently low with his fastball, however his off-speed pitches seemed crisp. Jose Iglesias ripped a double, putting runners in scoring position with one out.
Jurado, who struggled with giving up home runs through his MLB career thus far, gave up a three-run home run to Renato Nuñez, giving Baltimore a 3-0 lead. Chance Sisco followed the Nunez homer with a double to right center. The right hander was able to strike out Ryan Mountcastle, and got Rio Ruiz to fly out to Conforto to stop the bleeding.
During his second inning of work, Jurado gave up single to Pat Valaika to lead off the inning. New York native Andrew Velazquez ripped a single to right, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Cedric Mullins almost recorded his second bunt single of the game, but Guillorme made a spectacular barehanded play to get him at first, Mullens did get credit for a sacrifice bunt. Anthony Santander drove in his 30th run of the year on a single to right field, driving Valaika home. Iglesias grounded into a fielder’s choice plating Velazquez. Jurado was able to strike out Nuñez to end the second inning.
Jurado started the top of the third inning by getting Sisco to fly out to Andres Gimenez. The ball was finding Giminez in the third, as Ryan Mountcastle grounded out to him. Jurado was able to get Ruiz to fly out to Nimmo in centerfield, recording his first 1-2-3 inning of the game.
In the bottom of the fourth, Pat Valaika roped a single into right field to start the inning,Velazquez seemed to just miss a fastball that Jurado left over the plate, ultimately flying out to Nimmo. Cedric Mullins recorded his second hit of the game, a single into right field. Santander flew out to Guillorme over at third for the second out of the inning. Jurado made a nice play on the speedy Iglesias to end the fourth inning.
Franklyn Kilomé replaced Jurado in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jurado’s finished the night with five earned runs on nine hits, while striking out two. Kilomé was able to get Nunez to fly out to start the inning. Chance Sisco followed Nunez with a shot all the way to the wall, but the speedy Nimmo was able to take care of it with his back against the W.B. Mason sign in right center. Mountcastle then dribbled out to Kilomé to end the inning.
Kilomé’s second inning of work began with a walk to Rio Ruiz, who advanced on a wild pitch from Kilomé. Valaika hit a mistake fastball left over the zone for a double, driving in Ruiz. Velazquez laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Valaika to third. Kilomé was able to retire Mullins on strikes in a situation where he needed a strikeout to keep Valakia at bay. Anthony Santander took Kilomé deep to center field, extending the lead to 8-5.
Kilomé came out for the bottom of the seventh, and gave up Nuñez’s second home run of the game on a hanging curveball, extending the lead to 9-5. Chance Sisco flew out to left field for the first out of the inning. Kilomé was able to fire three balls past Mountcastle for the second out of the inning. Rio Ruiz snuck one in front of Nimmo in center, to keep the inning going with two outs. Valaika continues to rake against the Mets, dropping his fourth hit of the game in front of McNeil in left. Kilomé did get Velasquez to ground out to Cano for the final out of the seventh.
Jared Hughes came in to try to stagger the Orioles offense, and started the bottom half of the eighth inning off with a pop up into foul ground that Dom Smith made a fantastic play near the O’s dugout. Hughes then plunked Santander with the count knotted a two, a pitch that got away from Hughes. Iglesias keeps the eighth going with a single to left field. Hughes continues to be a wizard with his slider, making Nuñez look foolish on a strikeout. Chance Sisco flew out to McNeil, Hughes was able to work out of mini jam with two on.
On Deck:
The Mets will host the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of this brief two game series tomorrow evening, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 PM. Michael Wacha (1-2, 7.41 ERA) will take the hill for the Mets tomorrow afternoon, making his second start since coming off of the injured list. His last start was a bit rocky, giving up four runs in three innings of work, on the bright side however, he did strike out seven Yankees. John Means will take the mound for Baltimore. The game will be televised on SNY, and can be heard on WCBS 880-AM.
