Quintana Shelled in Tampa as Mets Lose 10-8

Fall down seven times, stand up eight. That’s a Japanese proverb.

The Mets got to Aaron Civale for seven runs. Jose Quintana gave up eight. That’s not a baseball proverb (or a winning formula.)

Quintana had his worst outing of the season – giving up eight earned runs on 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings – as the Mets dropped the opener of their six-game road trip to Tampa Bay 10-8 to fall back to .500 at 16-16. Brett Baty went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs to lead the offense.

New York got on the board first when Baty belted a three-run shot to right in the second inning. The Rays (15-18) quickly countered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning with an RBI groundout from Jonny DeLuca, a Curtis Mead RBI double and a two-out run-scoring single from Yandy Díaz.

The floodgates opened in the third, however.

Amed Rosario singled in a run, Alex Jackson added a sacrifice fly and DeLuca delivered a two-run single. Díaz later followed with his second run-scoring single in as many innings, chasing Quintana, whose ERA jumped from 3.48 to 5.20.

Down 9-3, New York rallied for four runs in the fifth to get back in the game. Starling Marte recorded a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded before Francisco Lindor ripped a two-run double – his third in two days – which knocked out Civale. Pete Alonso then greeted reliever Shawn Armstrong with an RBI double, snapping an 0-for-19 stretch for the slugger.

Dedniel Núñez gave up one run in 2 1/3 innings to keep the game within reach. Jorge López gave up one run in his lone inning and Danny Young fanned two in as many scoreless frames.

Baty’s second homer of the day and third on the year came in the ninth to bring the Mets within two. Brandon Nimmo doubled with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate, but Marte struck out to end the game.

Stat of the Game

The Mets’ bullpen gave up two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. The three relievers who appeared in the contest combined for five strikeouts and five walks. The ‘pen entered the game leading the National League with a 2.71 ERA.

Player of the Game

Baty went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. He is now slashing .271/.340/.385 on the year. He also made a diving catch on a line drive to save a double and started a 5-2-3 double play with the bases loaded.

On Deck

Christian Scott will make his Mets debut tomorrow! In five starts at Triple-A Syracuse this season, the 24-year-old pitched to a 3.20 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in addition to striking out 36 batters over 25 1/3 innings. Zack Littell (1-2, 3.27) gets the start for the Rays. The 7:15 p.m. game will be broadcast on FOX.