The Mets batted .147 on their nine-game homestand that ended Sunday. Since 1900, that was the lowest batting average by any major-league team on a homestand of seven or more games (of which there were more than 13,000).
So, yes. It was nice to shutout the Yankees Sunday night on national television. But the Mets are struggling in a historic fashion.
Any time the Mets have won a game lately, it seems like there has been an off day or some weather to deal with. That’s not an excuse by the way. It just seems like it’s been impossible for this team to build any momentum.
Zack Wheeler got the start for the reeling Mets. He was opposed by Mike Foltyniewicz, who’s hot start has taken the league by surprise.
Wheeler got through the first three frames pretty easily, but in the 4th, Atlanta got on the scoreboard in what has to be one of the most frustrating innings in team history.
64, 84, 69, 64. Those were the speeds of the balls that landed in front of Met fielders for hits that inning. Wheeler was able to erase two base runners on a double play, but Ender Inciarte’s 64 mph blooper scored Tyler Flowers, and the Braves had the lead. 1-0.
The Mets got a break at this point as Mike Foltyniewicz had to leave the game, after injuring himself swinging the bat.
We saw some fire out of Mickey Callaway in the top of the 6th. After Todd Frazier walked, Brandon Nimmo was hit by a pitch, but the umpire ruled it a ball, saying that Nimmo didn’t make an attempt to get out of the way. Callaway was ejected after stating his case.
Nimmo wound up walking anyway, and the Mets had two runners on. Asdrubal Cabrera reached on an error, and the bases were loaded. Jay Bruce was next and he laced a ball in the right-center gap. Unfortunately, the ball bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double, and the Mets settled for 2 runs instead of 3. The Mets had the lead 2-1.
Jay Bruce’s RBI double was the first time the Mets scored on a play other than a homerun in more than a week!
The lead didn’t last long. Freddie Freeman led off the bottom of the 6th with a homerun, and the game was tied 2-2. That’s when the game spiraled out of control.
Nick Markakis followed with a single. Tyler Flowers hit a ground ball that resulted in a play which was ruled a double play. The Braves challenged however, and it was overturned. One on, one out. Johan Camargo reached on a base hit to right, but Jay Bruce from last year threw out Tyler Flowers at 3rd base.
The most frustrating player on the face of the universe, Ender Inciarte followed with an RBI single and the Braves had the lead. 3-2. Inciarte immediately took off for second. Devin Mesoraco fired a perfect throw to second, but it was dropped by Cabrera and Inciarte was safe. That would prove costly.
Zack Wheeler then walked Preston Tucker and Charlie Culberson, loading the bases. Wheeler was removed from the game, and Paul Sewald entered. Ozzie Albies greeted him rudely, taking his third pitch over the wall for a grand slam. 7-2.
Yeah, 7-2. You felt like the game was over at 3-2, so a five run lead felt insurmountable. Which it was.
Wheeler was better than his final line reflected. He was very unlucky, and probably didn’t deserve the 6 earned runs charged to his account, but the 4 walks he allowed didn’t help his cause.
Mickey Callaway liked what he saw from Sewald apparently, as he was sent back out to pitch the 7th. After a leadoff walk to Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis hit a double off Jay Bruce’s glove which allowed Freeman to score the 8th and final run of the game. 8-2.
The Mets had 3 hits. What else can you say?
Jacob deGrom pitches tomorrow afternoon in the series finale.
