Jason Vargas started for the Mets on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers and the results were not quite to the liking of many.
In his last five starts (22 2/3 innings pitched), Vargas had only allowed five runs while striking out 18 batters in that span. Meanwhile, he saw his ERA dip from 8.10 to 6.56 (obviously neither is that appealing to the eye), and came into last night’s game with a 5-8 record, 1.57 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts in 16 total starts (70 innings pitched).
Vargas’ performance against the Dodgers on Tuesday was much more reminiscent of the version that Mets fans have seen for the majority of the season, though.
The 35-year-old left-hander made quick work of the Dodgers’ order in the first inning striking out Brian Dozier and then getting a fly out from Justin Turner and a groundout by Manny Machado.
After being granted a 2-0 lead on the heels of a Jay Bruce two-run homer in the top of the second inning, Vargas retired the side in order again, including a David Freese strikeout.
Michael Conforto padded his lead even further in the top of the third with a two-run homer of his own to extend the Mets’ lead to 4-0. However, Vargas coughed some of that back up as he walked Chris Taylor to lead off the inning and then allowed a two-run home run to Austin Barnes on a 3-1 fastball to cut the lead in half.
The opposing pitcher, Rich Hill, would single in the next at-bat. After settling in to retire Dozier and Turner, Vargas allowed another single to Machado to put runners at first and third with two outs before Dave Eiland came out to speak with his pitcher. Vargas was able to push through the inning, though, as he induced a Matt Kemp groundout.
The fourth inning would prove to be Vargas’ final, though, as he allowed a leadoff homer to David Freese on a 3-2 count to cut the Mets lead to one. Things only got worse for him as, right after that, Enrique Hernandez singled and then Chris Taylor doubled to put two runners in scoring position with no outs.
As everyone knows, defense often does not help the Mets’ cause and it didn’t once again on a soft ground ball hit by Barnes to Todd Frazier, which he booted, allowing everyone to be safe and Hernandez to score which tied the game.
Vargas was able to get some reprieve against Hill who grounded out back to the mound in which Vargas fired home to throw out Taylor at the plate.
That would be all for Vargas, though, as Mickey Callaway would call upon Tyler Bashlor who would allow the leading run to score, which would be charged to Vargas and give him the loss.
All in all, Vargas allowed five runs (four earned), six hits, and one walk while striking out two batters in 3 1/3 innings (82 pitches, 47 strikes).
