Scherzer Deals But Gets Little Support in 2-1 Loss to Seattle

Friday evening marked the first time the Seattle Mariners (15-18) faced the New York Mets (22-12) at Cit Field. Their last trip to New York to face the Mets was in 2008, the Mets last season at Shea Stadium. The game was a pitchers’ duel for the first seven innings, with each starter – Marco Gonzales and Max Scherzer – giving up only one run. The Mariners got to the Mets’ bullpen in the eighth inning and ultimately won the game 2-1.

Scherzer got off to a great start as he was perfect through the first three innings. He ran into a little bit of trouble in the fourth inning, hitting Ty France and giving up singles to J.P. Crawford and Jesse Winker. France scored on Winker’s hit, tying the game for the Mariners. But after giving up the one run, Scherzer got the ground out he needed to end the inning.

Scherzer recovered from his fourth inning troubles and was cruising until the seventh inning when the Mariners loaded the bases with one out. This thanks to an infield single and two walks. He got out of trouble with some help from his defense.

Eduardo Escobar started a 5-4-3 double play on a hard-hit ground ball off the bat of Steven Souza Jr. to get Scherzer out of the inning. Escobar was well-positioned, guarding the line, which enabled him to make the play. Scherzer’s final line was six strikeouts, two walks, and one earned run in seven innings pitched.

Drew Smith pitched the eighth inning for the Mets. He issued back-to-back walks to start the inning. A single by France gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead and earned Smith his first run surrendered in the 2022 campaign. Smith struck out the next two batters and got Winker to pop out to Francisco Lindor in shallow center to get out of the jam. Adam Ottavino got the top of the ninth inning and sat the Mariners down in order.

The Mets scored early against the Mariners. New York got back-to-back hits by Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte in the first inning which gave the Mets runners on second and third with no outs. Nimmo would score on a fly out to center off the bat of Lindor.

It seemed like the Mets were due for a good night at the plate, as they had Mariner’s starter Marco Gonzales laboring to start the game. But Gonzales regrouped after throwing 48 pitches through the first two innings and ultimately had a great start.

The Mets did not threaten again until the seventh inning. Tómas Nido walked with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Nimmo would follow with a bloop-double to center that the Mariners’ young centerfielder Julio Rodríguez just missed. Former Met Paul Sewald relieved Gonzales and shut New York down. He struck out Starling Marte to end the Mets’ threat. That was it for the Mets’ offense, and they went down quietly in the eighth and ninth innings.

Unfortunately for the Mets, the balls were not carrying well at Citi Field this game. Maybe it was some Friday the 13^th bad luck, but Mets’ players had some hard-hit balls that all found gloves in outfield. Jeff McNeil in particular hit a scorcher to right field in the seventh that would have been out of the park on any other night. Same went for Alonso who hit a ball to the warning track in right-center field in the eighth inning.

The Mets were limited to five hits in the game, and they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, leaving seven men on base. Hopefully their luck changes on Saturday.

Player of the Game: Max Scherzer

Scherzer pitched well for the Mets in his seven innings of work. It was good to see him dominate at times during the game, given his struggles in his last start against Philadelphia. He took a no-decision in the loss but gave his team every opportunity to win the game.

On Deck

The Mets and Mariners will meet again Saturday night at Citi Field. Game time is 7:10 p.m. and the game will be aired on WPIX. Chris Bassitt will start for the Mets against George Kirby for the Mariners.