LOS ANGELES — The Mets started their most necessary sequence of the yr up to now by enjoying principally crisp protection behind a stable pitching efficiency from their starter. In a lineup with out the red-hot Francisco Lindor, it was the Amazin’s bats that didn’t click on in opposition to a powerful Dodgers pitching workers.
The Amazin’s mustered simply three hits all evening in opposition to 4 Dodger arms of their 2-0 loss to Los Angeles within the sequence opener on Thursday evening at Chavez Ravine. One of these three hits got here off the bat of Luis Guillorme, who was batting third and enjoying shortstop instead of the sidelined Lindor. The Mets clearly missed their RBI-amassing shortstop, who was out of Thursday’s lineup after jamming his center finger on his resort doorways. The majority of Mets hitters have been blanked by Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin (6-0, 1.59 ERA) and the National League’s greatest bullpen (3.19 ERA).
The Mets (35-18) on Thursday have been shutout for the primary time this season. They have been the final crew within the majors to keep away from being goose-egged, having performed 52 video games with out getting shut out for the fourth-longest streak in franchise historical past. The longest streak was achieved by the 1986 championship Mets, who have been blanked of their 86th recreation. The 1993 Mets have been shut out of their 59th recreation, and the ‘94 crew was shut out in its 58th recreation.
“It’s impressive and we should give credit to ourselves for going 50-plus, almost 60 games without being shut out,” Starling Marte stated by means of interpreter Alan Surial. “But at the end of the day you have to tip your cap to them for doing a good job and we’re just going to continue to go out there and play hard.”
Taijuan Walker was capable of restrict Los Angeles’ harm to at least one run within the fifth inning due to heads-up protection from Mets infielders. After 4 shutout innings, Walker allowed three consecutive singles within the fifth, together with an RBI single to Mookie Betts. The inning appeared prefer it was going to get away from Walker, who had retired 13 of his 16 batters confronted as much as that time, earlier than a floor ball from Freddie Freeman modified the outlook.
With runners on first and second, Jeff McNeil fielded Freeman’s grounder and threw to first for the out. Then the Mets caught Gavin Lux, who superior to 3rd on Freeman’s grounder, in a rundown between dwelling. Using all intuition and fast pondering, the Amazin’s relay went 4-3-6-2-5 as Eduardo Escobar nabbed Lux at third with a fast tag for the inning-ending double play.
“They got a good lineup, one through nine,” Walker stated. “They got Justin Turner and (Cody) Bellinger hitting at the bottom of the lineup. One through nine, you can’t take any breaks. You really have to attack, especially with runners on. They’re aggressive. They put the ball in play. Had a couple of steals off me. It’s a tough lineup, and you always gotta be on your toes with them.”
The Mets solely should face former NL East foes Freeman (Braves) and Trea Turner (Nationals) in seven video games this season versus the standard 19, when each have been enjoying within the division. Freeman signed with the Dodgers this previous offseason, whereas Turner was traded to Los Angeles by the Nationals ultimately yr’s deadline. Freeman entered Thursday with a .305/.390/.499 profession slashline throughout 12 years in opposition to the Mets, whereas Turner entered the sequence with an .829 OPS in opposition to them.
At least within the Mets’ first time this season going through Freeman and Turner, Walker stored the previous in verify by means of all of his three at-bats in opposition to him. Turner went hitless in his first two at-bats in opposition to Walker, and notched a leadoff double off him within the sixth. Overall, Walker exited his begin through the sixth inning having given up two runs on seven hits, recording two strikeouts and strolling one batter in 5.2 innings and 92 pitches.
Despite the hassle, Walker took his first lack of the season in his eighth begin of the yr. His ERA barely moved, representing the bottom (2.88) amongst non-injured Mets starters.
“Usually that’s good enough for a win,” Mets supervisor Buck Showalter stated of Walker’s efficiency. “But we didn’t do much against their pitchers tonight. We knew it was going to be a challenge coming in. They were throwing the ball well.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com