Bullpen Losses Yet Another Game for Mets

Wednesday, August 22 2012

Final Score: Colorado Rockies: 5 New York Mets: 2

Bullpen Losses yet another Game for Mets

Things are hitting new lows every night in Queens for the Mets.  After another disappointing loss to the Rockies 5-2 Wednesday night, the Mets now see their losing streak at four games.  They have lost 13 of their last 15 games at Citi Field and have an abysmal 11-27 record since the All-Star break.  They have also lost seven straight games to the Rockies at home.  The Mets record now sits 10 games under .500, the worst it has been in three years. 

It was yet another strong effort from a starting pitcher tonight for the Mets that was wasted by a poor showing at the plate and a poor performance from the bullpen.  This is becoming almost a nightly thing, making watching the game almost obsolete as the end result is almost always the same.

Tonight the starting pitcher to be let down was Matt Harvey.  Harvey received a no-decision in the game, being lifted after six innings with his pitch count at 102.  Harvey was dominant against the Rockies, carrying a no-hitter into the 4^th inning before Jonathan Herrera led off the frame with an opposite field single.  It was one of only three hits that Harvey would surrender on the night.

Harvey would also walk two batters and give up only one earned run, as Herrera scored in the 4^th inning off a Wilin Rosario sac fly.  Harvey almost single handedly made up for the base runners he surrendered going 2 for 2 at the plate with two singles, giving him a .455 batting average in the major leagues.

Harvey also struck out nine Rockies Wednesday night, giving him 43 in his first six major league appearances.  That is enough to become the Mets franchise leader through six appearances, giving him one more than Nolan Ryan had in his first six Mets appearances, even though one was out of the bullpen.

Harvey ended the night with six innings pitched, three hits and two walks resulting in one earned run and nine strikeouts.

Immediately after going to the bullpen, the tie game was broken open as Ramon Ramirez gave up a homerun to Rosario to start the 7^th inning and would see Tyler Colvin score on a D.J. Mathieu suicide squeeze.

The Rockies would later capitalize on a Kelly Shoppach throwing error in the ninth inning and plate two more insurance runs off Frank Francisco, who saw his ERA rise to 6.42.  The Mets were able to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but Ronny Cedeno flew out to end the game.

Scott Hairston’s first inning sac fly and Ike Davis’ eight-inning RBI single accounted for all of the Mets offense.  Jason Bay was heavily booed after going 0 for 3, dropping his average to .148.  With the tying runs on base in the 8^th inning, Bay was lifted for pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin, who struck out to end the inning.

The Mets look to salvage the last game of the four game series Thursday afternoon as Collin McHugh will make his major league debut in place of Johan Santana against Tyler Chatwood (3-3, 5.46 ERA).