Drew Smith has solely given up seven residence runs this season, however nearly least half of them have been pricey. He served up his seventh of the season Tuesday evening at Citi Field within the Mets’ 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers took the sequence with the victory, handing the Mets their second straight sequence loss and their fourth loss within the final 5 video games. Smith changed left-hander Jose Quintana within the seventh inning. His second pitch to leadoff hitter Mitch Garver went over the left-center fence to interrupt a scoreless tie and successfully hand the Rangers (75-57) the win.
Smith has all the time been adept at elevating his fastball, however this one didn’t get sufficient rise and the 94.8 MPH pitch was about belt-high. The Mets are having hassle figuring out the explanations behind Smith’s struggles.
“Just when you think he’s going to get on a roll, he has a tough one,” mentioned supervisor Buck Showalter. “He’s having trouble throwing an inning without throwing 20-plus pitches. It doesn’t seem like it’s one pitch that’s getting away from him. You have power on power there and the other guy won.”
The right-hander (4-5) now has two losses and a blown save on account of residence runs and it was the second time this season he allowed lengthy balls in back-to-back outings. Sunday in opposition to the Los Angeles Angels, Smith gave up one as much as briefly put the Halos forward, however the Mets got here again and walked it off.
Quintana and left-hander Andrew Heaney battled by way of a scoreless duel. They each exited with out giving up an earned run with comparable traces. Quintana went six innings and allowed three hits, walked three and struck out 5. Heaney went 5 1/3 innings, allowed 5 hits, one stroll and struck out seven.
“I’ve seen him have good outings and tonight was one of them,” Showalter mentioned. “But not as good as Q’s.”
Quintana labored shortly and effectively, by no means going through a lot site visitors. But but once more, the Mets (60-73) did not reward him with a win. Through eight begins this season, Quintana boasts a 3.26 ERA, however a 1-5 document.
The Mets compelled Texas to go to the bullpen within the sixth inning after Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil reached, however right-hander Chris Stratton (2-1) retired Pete Alonso and Francisco Alvarez to get the Rangers out of the body unscathed. Alvarez sunk deeper into his August hunch, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts (.143 in August).
“We’ve been inconsistent, that’s for sure,” Showalter mentioned. “The top part of the order is trying to do too much because we’ve been struggling at the bottom. There aren’t some breathing spots there. Some guys trying to find their way and establish something for the future. Sometimes it looks OK, but then like tonight, we get a pitcher who hasn’t necessarily been pitching real well and he had his ways with us.”
Right-hander Phil Bickford allowed a run within the ninth inning. That one run made all of the distinction as Mark Vientos homered off former Yankees nearer Aroldis Chapman (4 saves) with two outs to increase the underside of the ninth. But Danny Mendick hit a grounder to shortstop for a straightforward ultimate out.
“That was a good collision,” Showalter mentioned of Vientos’ residence run.
For Vientos, it was one thing constructive to remove from an in any other case forgettable sport. His dad and mom have been in attendance and his father, who was born within the Dominican Republic, is a lifelong Mets fan, making the second extra necessary for one of many crew’s necessary prospects.
“Felt good to put a good swing on a good pitch,” Vientos mentioned.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com