The Mets fell to the Mariners 3-2 on Saturday afternoon as Jacob deGrom pitched well, but the offense was nonexistent.
Pitching
Jacob deGrom (12-4) suffered his first loss in his past eight starts, snapping his eight game winning streak. deGrom lasted six innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits.
deGrom was hurt by his defense in the bottom of the third. With one on and no out, deGrom got Robinson Cano to hit into what should’ve been a routine double play. However, Neil Walker threw the ball into left field, and the runners advanced to second and third. A batter later, deGrom allowed a sacrifice fly to Nelson Cruz in the bottom of the third. That run proved to be the difference in this game.
DeGrom struck out ten Seattle hitters on the afternoon, making him the first Mets pitcher to record eight double-digit strikeout games in a year since David Cone did so in 1992.
Fernando Salas allowed a pair of leadoff hits in the seventh, before bouncing back and retiring to next two batters. Terry Collins then turned to Josh Smoker for the lefty-lefty matchup against Ben Gamel. Smoker struck out Gamel with a wicked slider to strand the runners at first and second.
Smoker retired the first two batters he face in the eighth before being pulled after allowing a two out double to Kyle Seager. Erik Goeddel came on in relief, and was bailed out by a beautiful throw home by Michael Conforto to save a run.
Hitting
The Mets offense was shutdown by Yovani Gallardo all afternoon, as they managed only five hits off of him.
New York had two men on in both the second and the fifth inning, however Gallardo was able to work his way out of trouble.
In the sixth, Gallardo was pulled after back to back two out singles by Yoenis Cespedes and Neil Walker. After the pitching change, Curtis Granderson drew a four pitch walk to load the bases for Wilmer Flores. Flores drew a five pitch walk, forcing in the Mets first run of the game. The Mets stranded three more runners in scoring position as Jose Reyes popped up to end the threat.
The Mets were able to get the tying runs on base to lead off the seventh as Travis d’Arnaud singled and Michael Conforto walked. However, an Asdrubal Cabrera double play and a Jay Bruce strike out stranded d’Arnaud at third.
Wilmer Flores led off the top of the ninth with a double, and he was brought around on a Michael Conforto two out RBI single. Stepping in as the winning run, Asdrubal Cabrera struck out to end the game
In total, the Mets left nine runners on base and were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Cespedes, Flores, and d’Arnaud recorded six of the eight Mets hits.
Up Next
Seth Lugo (5-2, 4.10 ERA) takes the mound against James Paxton (10-3, 2.84 ERA) Sunday afternoon at 4:10 PM as the Mets look to take the rubber game of this three game set.
