Noah Syndergaard wasn't just battling the nine hitters in the Royals' lineup on Friday.

He was also battling the conditions.

It was a hot, humid evening in Kansas City, and though Syndergaard did his best to battle through six innings, the conditions ultimately got to him.

"I felt like I had to battle the elements out there. I don't know what it is about humidity, but we do not get along," Syndergaard said.

"I was sweating like a greased pig back there."

For the first time in seven starts, Syndergaard failed to give the Mets seven innings. Because of the heat, the right-hander had a hard time gripping the ball throughout the night.

"He was really having trouble gripping the ball," said Mickey Callaway. "All of the sweat, the humidity kind of got to him and tired him out as well, that's why we took him out. He did a great job. He kept us in the game and did what a starter needs to do."

"I don't know what it is, but I'm pretty good at sweating," said Syndergaard. "Just try to take precautionary measure in between innings, make sure I dry off so I can go out there next innings and grip the ball.

"Sinker was working pretty well throughout the game. Once I started laboring between innings, it just was more difficult to grip the ball and I was kind of getting frustrated with myself."

Syndergaard, who said that he had to change his jersey every two to three innings to try to stay dry, also admitted to battling a bit of a cold, though he said he didn't think that played a role on Friday.

"A little bit, yeah, but it's pretty typical of me," Syndergaard answered when asked about having a cold. I'm trying to not let it affect my performance … I don't think I let it affect my energy levels."

Syndergaard allowed just two earned runs over six innings, and gave up just five hits, but the Mets bats stayed quiet in the 4-1 loss to the Royals. The right-hander is now 8-6 on the season with a 3.86 ERA.

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