PITTSBURGH — Against one of the lovely backdrops in baseball, the Mets performed one of many ugliest video games of the season.
One evening after dropping a devastating extra-inning contest to the Atlanta Braves, the Mets have been battered by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The shedding streak prolonged to seven video games in a 14-7 loss at PNC Park within the collection opener. There have been unhealthy fundamentals, misplays, miscues and every little thing in between.
The Mets rallied to attain 5 within the ninth off Rob Zastryzny and nearer David Bednar. The battle was there, however the execution wasn’t.
Francisco Lindor summed it up succinctly: “It just sucks,” the shortstop mentioned.
Tylor Megill was shelled for the third time in 4 begins, however the protection behind him didn’t precisely assist the state of affairs. After taking a 1-0 lead within the prime of the second inning, the Mets (30-34) went down 2-0 when a ground-rule double by light-hitting catcher Austin Hedges scored two. Hedges flared one down the fitting area line and Starling Marte misjudged how near the wall the ball was. The catch likelihood was 50% and Marte didn’t come very near grabbing it.
“He’s fine,” mentioned supervisor Buck Showalter. “I’m not going to blame an outfielder for a ball that lands next to the foul line.”
But that one play didn’t doom the Mets. They made two errors within the second, contributing to the Pirates’ five-run outburst. Lindor dropped a double play ball from Carlos Santana that may have ended the inning however as a substitute, it put two on, and one other by Eduardo Escobar that allowed two to attain.
“It was a mental mistake,” Lindor mentioned. “Flat out, a mental mistake. I rushed the play. That’s been [how I’ve made] errors this year — trying to finish the play without having the ball in my glove. It’s unacceptable.”
A visibly distraught Lindor shouldered the blame for the 5 runs, if not for the complete recreation.
“Today is on me,” Lindor mentioned. “That play right there, it was going to close out the inning. Megill was pitching good. He had the momentum.”
Megill exited with two outs within the third to finish his outing at 3 2/3.
“We keep thinking he’s about to take off,” Showalter mentioned. “But we didn’t exactly help him defensively tonight.”
Zach Muckenhirn, who was known as as much as exchange Stephen Nogosek on the roster earlier within the day, couldn’t cease the bleeding. Pitching in solely his third huge league recreation, he allowed two inherited runners to attain and gave up three of his personal on 5 hits over 2 1/3 innings. The Mets badly wanted him to chew a number of and he did. In doing so, he spelled a bullpen that had solely few obtainable arms.
Tommy Hunter threw two innings, giving up back-to-back residence runs within the eighth to Santana and Jake Suwinski.
Megill (5-4) was charged with 9 runs, however solely seven have been earned, on eight hits and three walks. He struck out just one and he now has a 5.14 ERA.
“I just haven’t been able to go out there and get outs,” Megill mentioned, lamenting the inconsistencies he’s suffered from begin to begin.
Meanwhile, left-hander Rich Hill (6-5), who pitched in 13 video games for the Mets in 2021, restricted his former group to solely two earned runs. Mark Vientos had an RBI single within the second inning to open the scoring. Lindor hit his twelfth residence run of the season within the third to briefly tie the sport at 2-2.
The 43-year-old Hill threw 119 pitches over seven innings, strolling two and putting out six for Pittsburgh (33-29).
“They’re trying and they’re getting after it,” Showalter mentioned of his pitching workers. “But it’s not happening. It’s frustrating for us. We’re all charged with figuring it out. That’s what we have to do.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com