White Sox 5, Mets 4
The Mets lost the series opener to the White Sox tonight by the score of 5-4 on a walkoff single in the ninth at U.S. Cellular Field.
Zack Wheeler made his second start of the season and didn’t fare very well, working out of trouble throughout his stint and having command issues all night. Wheeler lasted just 5.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits, a home run, three walks, a wild pitch, a hit by pitch, and just one strikeout. For some reason he eased back on his fastballs and threw way too many changeups and offspeed stuff. He wasn’t pounding the zone and it seemed like almost every batter had a 3-2 count.
It was apparent right from the start that Wheeler’s explosiveness was not there. The damage could have been worse if not for some great defensive plays by Marlon Byrd, Juan Lagares and Jordany Valdespin. Wheeler will start again on Sunday when he makes his home debut against the Washington Nationals.
Carlos Torres worked 1.2 scoreless innings and Josh Edgin pitched a scoreless eighth out of the pen.
The Mets scored a pair in the first inning when Eric Young doubled to start the rally and scored on a sac fly by Marlon Byrd. David Wright walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Josh Satin. The Mets scored their third run on a solo homer by Andrew Brown who has three home runs in his last six at-bats. I see another start in his future tomorrow.
In the ninth inning, the Mets came back to tie the game at 4-4 when a popup by Daniel Murphy that should have been the final out of the game, fell between infielders Conor Gillaspie and Gordon Beckham. David Wright, who had singled and stole second, came around to score the tying run.
But the White Sox quickly put runners on first and second with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth off righty LaTroy Hawkins. It looked like hawkins would work out of the jam, but Alexei Ramirez singled home the winning run for the 5-4 win.
White Sox ace Chris Sale was lights out and held the Mets to just three runs and four hits while striking out 13 batters in 8.0 innings pitched.
The Mets wrap up the two game series on Wednesday with Shaun Marcum (0-9, 5.76) taking on John Danks (1-4, 5.40) in a 8:10 PM start. Lets Go Mets!
