The Mets failed to hold a pair of multi-run leads in dropping their second straight to the Rockies, 10-8, on Wednesday night at Coors Field.
For a full box score of the game, click here.
Things you should know about tonight's game...
1) After the Mets rallied to take an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the fifth, a usually rock-solid Robert Gsellman retired the first two batters before falling apart. He issued a walk to Ian Desmond, a single to Tom Murphy and a pinch-hit three-run homer to Ryan McMahon. Charlie Blackmon added a solo blast in the sixth for the final margin of victory.
2) Immediately after falling behind in the fifth, the Mets loaded the bases in the sixth with one out only to come away empty handed. Pinch-hitting for Gsellman, Kevin Plawecki swung at a borderline, full-count offering and grounded into an inning-ending 5-5-3 double play. New York did not threaten over the final three frames and were held scoreless against a Rockies bullpen that came into the game with a 9.92 ERA in June.
3) New York jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on a Michael Conforto RBI single and Devin Mesoraco's two-run double. Todd Frazier had an RBI hit in the second and Asdrubal Cabrera's two-run single capped a four-run rally in the fifth that put the Mets ahead, 8-6. Dominic Smith had a career-high three hits, scored twice and fell a triple shy of the cycle. Wilmer Flores added a sacrifice fly and Brandon Nimmo forced in the tying run in the fifth with a bases-loaded walk.
4) An ineffective Seth Lugo was hit around for the second straight outing, although his defense did him no favors. In his fourth start of the season, the right-hander was charged with a season-high six runs -- three earned -- on six hits and two walks while striking out five in three innings. Frazier's throwing error and a passed ball by Mesoraco enabled the Rockies to score three unearned runs in the second inning to erase a 4-1 deficit.
Michael Avallone, SNY.tv | Twitter |
Full disclosure: win or lose, I cannot stand watching any baseball game that takes place at Coors Field. It looks like a beautiful ballpark and if I ever happen to be in Denver, I would love to experience it. But from a fan's perspective, watching any game there that involves a team you root for is tortuous. Yes, the pendulum swings both ways offensively, but I do not now, nor have I ever considered what I see at Coors Field true baseball. Whether the Mets are good or bad, when they win a game in Denver, I feel relieved instead of happy. Then there are games like tonight.
Tonight, it was clear from the start that Seth Lugo's devastating curveball would be rendered impotent due to the elements that feed into my above diatribe. Without it, Lugo became basically a two-pitch pitcher who had trouble commanding his pitches to boot. Although he only walked two batters, he fell behind consistently and paid for it ... although his defense failed him during the Rockies' rally in the second. As for Robert Gsellman, giving up a homer in Denver is par for the course. But the two-out walk to a .213-hitting Ian Desmond was inexcusable and the catalyst for Colorado's comeback. Coming just minutes after the offense had rallied to give New York a two-run lead and Gsellman had retired the first two batters of the inning ... it just cannot happen. But it did and here we are.
Offensively, the Mets were again on point, tallying 13 hits. Of course, anything done at Coors Field needs to be taken with a grain of salt and the club's disappearing act over the final four innings against a dreadful Rockies bullpen was an all-too-ugly reminder of what this team has looked like for a majority of the season with the bats.
News and notes...
New York enters the final game of their 10-game road trip at 3-6. They are 4-14 in their last 18 games, 6-19 in their last 24 and 14-31 (.311) since May 1.
The Mets have scored 38 runs over their last five games, including 28 in the first three at Coors Field. New York has scored five or more runs in five straight games for the first time since Sept. 6-10, 2017.
Despite scoring eight runs and going 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position, the Mets left 12 men on base. New York failed two win consecutive games when scoring eight runs or more for the second time in franchise history. The 2004 club dropped 18-10 and 10-8 decisions to Atlanta.
After tossing 10 scoreless innings in his first two starts, Lugo has allowed 11 runs -- eight earned -- on 14 hits in eight frames over his last two outings. He has a 4.00 ERA in four starts this season.
Gsellman (5-2) entered Wednesday having allowed four runs over his previous 21 1/3 innings (1.69 ERA), which included 8 1/3 straight scoreless frames since May 30.
Amed Rosario singled as a pinch-hitter in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to six games.
The Mets optioned to Hansel Robles to Triple-A Las Vegas and recalled Chris Flexen.
What's next...
The Mets (31-40) look for a split of their four-game series with the Rockies (36-38) on Thursday afternoon at Coors Field at 3:00 p.m. on SNY.
Steven Matz (3-4, 3.31 ERA/5.06 FIP, 57 K, 1.24 WHIP) closes the road trip looking for his second consecutive win after allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks last Saturday. The 27-year-old has a 1.88 ERA in his previous five outings and a 2.47 mark a 2.47 ERA since the start of May. Matz allowed one run over six innings against the Rockies on May 5. He is winless with a 5.40 ERA in four career meetings with Colorado.
Kyle Freeland (6-6, 3.59 ERA/3.89 FIP, 73 Ks, 1.242 WHIP) takes the hill for the 15th time in the series finale. The left-hander surrendered two runs over seven innings during a no-decision against the Rangers last Saturday. Freeland limited the Mets to two runs over seven frames on May 6. The 25-year-old has a 1.80 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against New York.