Remember April? Remember when everything Mickey Callaway touched turned to gold?
Well Callaway had a game last night that had some fans wondering if they were too tough on Terry Collins.
Noah Syndergaard got the start for the Mets and he was good, not great. I think we are still just waiting for Thor to show up. But like he’s done in every one of his starts this year, he put the Mets in good position to win the game.
This game was a back and forth affair, but the scoring came in bunches, as there were long stretches where the offenses disappeared. Milwaukee struck first in the bottom of the 2nd, on Travis Shaw’s solo homerun – his 13th of the year.
The Mets answered immediately in the top of the 3rd. They tied the game on a solo homerun from Amed Rosario. When I say Rosario smoked this ball…he SMOKED this ball.
We were only able to marvel at Amed’s feat of strength for a half inning however, because the Brewers went right back to work in the bottom of the 3rd.
Lorenzo Cain singled and stole second, then was singled home by Christian Yelich. Cain’s strategy seemed pretty sound, so Yelich stole second and was singled home by Travis Shaw. 3-1. It’s common knowledge that speedy players are going to steal on Syndergaard anytime they reach.
I did say the scoring was back and forth for a while. Michael Conforto stepped to the plate and was out in front of a 1-2 slider. With one hand essentially, Conforto put the ball over the right field wall and the Mets were back within a run. 3-2.
The score would remain 3-2 as both offenses went completely quiet. After his hiccup in the 3rd, Syndergaard set down 10 out of the next 11 Brewers he would face. The only Milwaukee hitter who reached during that period was Manny Pina, who got to first on a Wilmer Flores error.
In the top of the 7th, Milwaukee sent their insane reliever, Josh Hader to the mound. This guy is unfair. He’s a reliever who’s top ten in the league in strikeouts. The next fifteen batters he faces would need to get base hits consecutively for his opponents’ batting average against him to eclipse .200.
Hader got Michael Conforto to ground out, and then struck out Devin Mesoraco. Jose Bautista pinch hit for Adrian Gonzalez and was able to draw a walk. Noah Syndergaard was due to bat. Mickey Callaway sent Jose Reyes to the plate.
Noah Syndergaard was cruising. Retired 10 out of the last 11 hitters he faced. He had thrown 78 pitches! And for what? Jose Reyes?! Bautista was on first base. What kind of extra base power has Reyes shown this season that would make you think that Reyes could get Bautista home from first?
Reyes grounded out and the Mets would need to go into their bullpen. Ridiculous.
So Noah’s line on the night was 3 earned runs over 6 innings of work. He allowed 6 hits and struck out 8. Again, he didn’t walk a batter.
Seth Lugo would enter and give the Mets two perfect innings. The Mets were down to their last 3 outs in the top of the 9th, and Milwaukee closer Corey Knebel was brought in to try and secure the win.
Wilmer Flores grounded out to the catcher. Replays showed that the ball was foul, but the Mets were not able to challenge. Go figure. Automatic out, Jay Bruce lined out to Lorenzo Cain in center field. Then Knebel got wild.
Michael Conforto and Devin Mesoraco drew back to back walks. Then Jose Bautista stepped to the plate. The newest Met took the second pitch he saw into left field for a single and Michael Conforto scored. Tie game! 3-3!
Luis Guillorme had a phenomenal at bat and after ten pitches, worked a walk that loaded the bases. Jeremy Jeffress relieved Knebel and got Amed Rosario to ground out to end the inning.
Give them credit. These Mets fight.
Robert Gsellman entered in the bottom of the 9th and gave up a shift aided double to Travis Shaw. After striking out Domingo Santana, and intentionally walking Ryan Braun, Manny Pina lined out to Brandon Nimmo. Shaw was running and got doubled off second base.
In the bottom of the tenth, Gsellman got Tyler Saladino to fly out. Eric Sogard singled, but Lorenzo Cain flew out to center. 2 outs. Mickey Callaway then decided to bring in Jerry Blevins to face Christian Yelich.
On the third pitch Blevins threw, Yelich singled, allowing Sogard to advance to third. It should be mentioned that a right fielder who could run might have made the play, but the ball landed in front of Jay Bruce. So in the bottom of the tenth, with the winning run 90 feet away, Callaway brought in AJ Ramos. I guess Hansel Robles wasn’t available.
Hernan Perez stepped to the plate and walked on 4 pitches. None of those pitches were even remotely close.
That loaded the bases for Travis Shaw.
The Brewers walk off. Literally. 4-3 Milwaukee in 10 innings.
Jason Vargas pitches tomorrow, so that should be fun.
