The Mets lost to the Pirates by the score of 4-1 on Friday night at PNC Park. Here are my takeaways from the loss…
An uneven start for Noah Syndergaard.
He started off great, fanning the first four batters he faced. But he got into some two out trouble in the second and allowed a couple of runs to come across. He was victimized by a questionably awarded hit which went under the glove of Lucas Duda, although that ball was roped.
Syndergaard then retired seven in a row before having to work out of a jam in the fifth. But then things just came a part for him in the sixth inning, which you can read about next.
He got away from his fastball a bit when he got into trouble tonight, but he also struggled with the command of that pitch while in the stretch. He got hurt on a couple of off-speed pitches, which is unfortunate because he didn’t get beat with his best stuff.
It’s still a learning experience for him, and he will get there. He pitched well tonight and deserved better. Its clear he belongs, and Terry Collins made it clear tonight Syndergaard is going to stay here, which is the right call.
More mental mistakes.
With the way the Mets offense is right now, they simply cannot make the mental mistakes they continue to make. They’re just going to kill them every time because they have zero margin for error.
The sixth inning was a meltdown of sorts in this department. After the Pirates had already plated a run on a double by Andrew McCutchen and a single by Jung-Ho Kang, Syndergaard made an errant throw to first on a pick off attempt, and Kang went to second. But, Duda did not throw to second on what was an easy chance to throw out Kang. Then, Syndergaard didn’t check Kang back to second, who took off for third with ease. And then, Michael Cuddyer poorly played a short flyball off the bat of Pedro Alvarez – he backed up on the flyball rather than get behind it and get in position to throw. He threw from his heals and basically rolled the ball home and Kang scored with no problem.
That situation with Kang was a total giveaway, and the Mets beat themselves.
Negative offense.
That’s the only way to describe their bats tonight. They scattered six singles off Gerrit Cole, who was outstanding, but grounded into three double plays, and were caught stealing twice. That’s anti-production if you ask me. The only way they managed to score off Cole was on a wild pitch, which is nothing other than some dumb luck.
There’s nothing else to say about the offense. It is what it is, it’s not really unexpected, and it’s not going to get better at least until Travis d’Arnaud and David Wright get back, and as I’ve said many times, they aren’t going to be activated with magic wands for this offense.
The Mets have hit into seven double plays in their last two games – they’ve hit into 38 double plays n 43 games this season.
Curtis Granderson grounded into one of those double plays – he also fanned twice and singled.
The Mets lost five of their six base runners on the bases tonight thanks to two caught stealing and three double plays.
The Mets 1-4 in the lineup went 1-for-14 with eight strikeouts.
Erik Goeddel pitched two scoreless innings of relief – he has a 1.17 ERA this season.
Mets pitching did not allow a walk tonight – it was the eighth time in 43 games they have not allowed a walk as a team, and the 20th time they’ve allowed one walk or less.
Just Mets 