Mets came back home feeling good after sweeping the first place Rays. Dillon Gee tried to keep the ball rolling but he had no control and was getting batted all over Citi Field.

In the second inning, Gee gave up a lead-off inside the park home run to Jay Bruce after Jason Bay slammed into the left field wall chasing down the ball, hitting his head and neck. He came out of the game, able to walk on his own, but he was really woozy that he looked like he was going to collapse half way back to the dugout. He missed much of the 2010 season with a concussion he sustained barreling into the Dodger Stadium wall after a fly ball, and was on the disabled list this season after hurting his ribs diving for another ball. They say it’s a possible concussion, and after Bay’s concussion two years ago and Thole’s concussion earlier this year, you know they’re going to be extra cautious with Bay.

Continuing on, Hairston came in to play left and committed a throwing error as Gee gives up back-to-back hits and the Reds score again in the second. In the third inning, after losing control of his pitch and hitting Joey Votto in the side, he gives up a two-run shot to Brandon Phillips. Gee eventually strikes out and walks the next two batters and finally able to get a pop up to end the third.

Gee later settled in and finished the last ten batters cleanly to finally end his day. A rough start but it could have been worse. He finishes with four runs, but only three earned, on five hits, one walk, one HBP, a homerun, while striking out five in six innings of work. He went up to 100 pitches for just those six innings, increases his ERA to 4.43, and receives the loss.

At this point the Mets only had one hit through the first five innings until Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a lead-off solo-homerun to get the Mets on the board. His third in the last two games.

Jeremy Hefner came in, his first appearance in nine days. With one out and Arroyo, the pitcher, on first, Hefner gives up a double, but Arroyo was heading home with the throw coming into the infield and the Mets could have had him hung out to dry on the base path. However, there was no communication in the infield, so Quintanilla had no idea of the easy out, Arroyo got back to third and everyone was safe. Hefner then gives up a two-run double from former Met, Wilson Valdez, to give the Reds a five run lead.  One inning, three hits, two runs for Hefner.

Not to be outdone by Kirk, Bay’s replacement, Scott Hairston, hits a two-run bomb into left field after Ike Davis gets himself a base hit. Atta boy Scotty! Afterwords, the Mets were able to get Bronson Arroyo out of the game, however, the Reds bullpen, who are the best in the league, threw three hitless innings against our Mets.

Elvin Ramirez pitches the eighth inning with no problem, but not the same story for the ninth. After a lead-off double from former Met and Met killer, Willie Harris, Ramirez gives up back-to-back hits and an RBI. He strikes out Votto with a backdoor slider, then gets Brandon Phillips to hit into a double play to retire the side.

Rounding out the little offense they had, the Mets score three runs on two hits with homers from Kirk and Hairston, and base hits from Ike and Wright. Ike also had a walk today, showing his patience has improved. His average now at .191. Murphy not so much with absolutely terrible at-bats, going 0-4.

Notes

As mentioned, Jason Bay left in the second inning after colliding with the left field wall. Possible concussion.

This day in Mets history, in 1977, the Mets traded Tom Seaver to the Reds for four players. This would later become one of the worst trades in Mets history.

Mets first and second draft picks in this year’s Amateur Draft, Kevin Plawecki and Gavin Cecchini, were at Citi Field today. They took batting practice with the team and Plawecki was hitting balls over the fence. Last time Cecchini was at Citi Field, was Johan’s no-hitter.

Mets hosted REO Speedwagon for a post-game concert. “[Mets We] Keep On Loving You.”

Game Ball

Kirk and Hairston, who without, we’d be shutout. Thanks boys.

Up Next

Niese tries to keep the long ball away from the Reds as he goes up against Homer Bailey. First pitch set for 7:15 PM on Fox.