Just Mets

The Mets defeated the Braves by the score of 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. Here are my takeaways from Saturday’s win…

Plays not made on the infield.

It’s just a recurring theme for this club, and once again their issues on the infield has cost the Mets a ballgame.

There was the aforementioned double play not turned by Wilmer Flores, Three errors by Daniel Muno at third base, a ball not caught by Dilson Herrera in the 11th (although it was a diving play). And a mistake by Eric Campbell that followed Herrera’s miscue on a bunt play he did not let roll foul.

It’s a combination of inexperience but also overexposure on the infield which badly cost the Mets today. It certainly turned a game they needed to win and filled with good feelings into a real stinker of a loss on Saturday.

The misplay by Flores in the ninth inning was a killer and obviously spun this game right around on the Mets. It was the 26th and 27th outs for the Mets on what would have been a really nice win for the club. He was only able to get one out and it allowed the game to continue. It was an awkward hop with some weird spin, but that’s a big league play in a big spot that’s gotta get executed, and he didn’t.

The funny thing about it was it was his defense just two innings before which turned the game right around on the Braves and gave the Mets momentum to take a two-run lead. he made a critical mistake in the ninth on a game-ending double play opportunity when he bobbled a ball hit right to him.

Having said that, his defense has come a very long way over the last month, despite his mis-play in the ninth inning. It was just a bad time for him to bobble that ball.

Being short in the bullpen hurt.

Terry Collins has said he would get Bobby Parnell’s feet wet by starting him in an inning. Instead, he used Parnell in his 2015 debut to get the final out in the eighth inning, and he allowed a hit before doing so.

Then, without Jeurys Familia for the ninth, Collins went to Hansel Robles who looked a little anxious in the closer role and allowed a run. Ok, fine.

But he was forced to turn to Alex Torres to face Freddie Freeman with the tying and go-ahead runs on-base,  Why? Because Jack Leathersich was already used and Sean Gilmartin was not available. The problem is, Torres is not a lefty specialist and has better numbers against right-handed hitters. So, Freeman did what he usually does and drove in the tying run, and that was pretty much that from there.

A thriller.

It was a wonderful pitchers duel all afternoon. The Braves led most of the way thanks to a first inning home run from Freddie Freeman, but Jacob deGrom settled in, started getting his fastball down in the zone and pretty much schooled the Braves from that point through the seventh inning. He fanned nine on the afternoon, issued only one walk, and induced nine ground balls.

Shelby Miller, on the other hand, was a tad better over the first six innings. The Mets didn’t have a clue against him for the first six innings, but they cracked his armor in the seventh inning with one out thanks to a huge two run single by Travis d’Arnaud (watch) and a run scoring double by Lucas Duda.

Then, with Jack Leathersich on in the eighth, Cameron Maybin led things off with a double, he inexplicably stole third and got away with it. But then Freeman flew out to Darrell Ceciliani, who nailed Maybin with a perfect throw at the plate to prevent the run from scoring (watch).

The highlight of the day came in the top of the seventh with a runner at third, and two out. Jace Peterson hit a ball up the middle but Wilmer Flores made a great diving stop and threw Peterson out to prevent the run from scoring (watch).

But in the end, the Mets made too many mistakes, the Braves took advantage with some big hits, and the Mets could not respond to their self-inflicted problems. It was a disappointing ending to a game which was setup to be a very good win for the Mets until the ninth inning.

Darrell Ceciliani is earning his keep.

He’s had a very big and important week for the Mets. He’s come up with a few big hits, and today’s play in the eighth inning to throw out Maybin did nothing to hurt his value as well. He has been very valuable – both offensively and defensively – off the bench for the Mets in general, and is showing he can thrive in a role the Mets have really been searching to fill all year long.

Other notes from Saturday:

Ceciliani has hit in three-straight games – he is 7-for-18 in 10 games this month.

DeGrom is 4-0 with a 1.25 ERA with five walks and 53 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings over his last six starts.

The Mets are now 22-12 against the National League East this season – their five game winning streak against the Braves was snapped with the loss.

The Mets are now 30-1 when leading after eight innings in 2015.