It was an enormous second for an enormous rookie. The Mets had been down two runs within the backside of the ninth with runners on second and third and rookie catcher Francisco Alvarez on the plate dealing with San Diego Padres nearer Josh Hader.
It was a positive matchup for the 21-year-old Alvarez, the Mets’ high organizational prospect and a power-hitting catcher identified for crushing left-handed pitching. But the comeback fell brief when Alvarez swung by way of a excessive cutter for strike three to finish the sport.
He had been searching for a fastball.
The Mets fell 4-2 on Tuesday evening at Citi Field, night the sequence at 1-1.
“He’s got good pitches,” Alvarez stated by way of a translator.
The focus of this sport can be on Alvarez and his 0-for-3 efficiency as a result of he’s one of many high prospects in baseball. Some of the eye is warranted. But the blame lies on a lineup that didn’t capitalize on runners in scoring place.
“It’s a lineup. It’s a lot more than Francisco,” supervisor Buck Showalter stated. “There were a lot of things that happened in that game that could have gone differently, but I understand why people want to focus on that.”
Down simply 2-1 within the high of the ninth in opposition to the San Diego Padres, the Mets had been nonetheless inside placing distance. Even after Dennis Santana gave up a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts, the Mets got here again within the backside of the body, threatening to stroll it off.
The Mets lower the deficit to 2 runs within the backside of the ninth when Tommy Pham laced a single up the middle to attain Pete Alonso and advance Jeff McNeil to 3rd base. But the theme of the sport was the Mets’ lack of ability to drive in runs and the ninth-inning theatrics got here to an finish with a loss.
It was a dismal offensive exhibiting for the Mets, who managed solely 5 hits and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring place. They had the bases loaded within the first inning with none out and didn’t capitalize.
“A good pitcher made some good pitches,” Showalter stated of left-hander Ryan Weather. “He had good stuff tonight and we knew he was going to be a challenge. I thought [David] Peterson was the key to us being in that game. He really pitched well, he attacked and it was good to see him get after it tonight the way that he can.”
Making his third begin of the season, Peterson (0-2) set himself up for achievement with good counts and good command by way of the primary 4 innings. Other than a two-run double to Manny Machado, Peterson was efficient, limiting the Padres to 2 earned runs on six hits, strolling two and placing out six over 5 2/3 innings.
Peterson had excessive reward for Alvarez as a backstop, constructing on the connection they shaped final season with Triple-A Syracuse. Showalter needed to spotlight the positives and Peterson was completely happy to assist.
“From the first time I threw to him until now, there have definitely been improvements,” Peterson stated. “He wants to be a good catcher. Everybody sees the offense that he’s put up, but he really takes pride in the catching position.”
Weathers (1-0), the son of former Mets and Yankees right-hander David Weathers, gave up back-to-back singles to Francisco Lindor and Alonso with none out, with Lindor getting to 3rd on Alonso’s hit. Alonso was then picked off at first for the primary out within the inning however a fly ball by Mark Canha scored Lindor to make it 1-0.
Weathers earned his first win of the season in 5 innings of labor. It was the fourth time the Mets misplaced when dealing with a left-handed starter (2-4 total).
The Mets threatened within the eighth when Eduardo Escobar drew a leadoff stroll. He was changed by pinch-runner Tim Locastro, who stole second base. But Alvarez then struck out on three straight sliders from right-hander Steven Wilson.
Making his second begin at catcher instead of the injured Omar Narvaez, the Mets appreciated the matchup in opposition to the left-handed Weathers, however Alvarez went 0-for-2 in opposition to him earlier than Wilson and Hader struck him out.
Brandon Nimmo walked and Starling Marte grounded right into a power to place two on with two out, however Wilson bought Lindor to swing by way of strike three to finish the inning and the menace.
“Some good things happened,” Showalter stated. “Locastro continues to make an impact on the bases for us, Tommy Pham had a big hit for us off a tough pitcher. There are some at-bats that fell to people other than Francisco Alvarez.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com