Mets Drop Last Game of West Coast Trip

Sunday August 5^th, 2012

Final Score: New York Mets: 3 San Diego Padres: 7

Mets Drop Last Game of West Coast Trip

The Mets had a disappointing end to what was an overall positive west coast trip, ending with a loss to the San Diego Padres 7-3 Sunday afternoon.  Even with the loss to the end the trip, the Mets will head home with a 6-5 record out west against the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.

Matt Harvey had a strong start to the road trip winning in Arizona for his first career win, but did not have as positive outcome this time around.  Harvey has a promising career ahead of him, but will undoubtedly have his rough patches like this afternoon.

Harvey had a rough afternoon, surrendering two two-run homeruns in spacious Petco Park.  Chase Headley in the first inning and Yonder Alonso in the third were able to tag Harvey for homers, making Harvey only the second visiting pitcher this season to surrender multiple homers in a game. 

Harvey’s final line was uninspiring ending with five innings pitched, eight hits, five runs, one walk and five strikeouts on 81 pitches.  If not for the trouble with the long ball, Harvey’s stat line looks much more promising.

The only noise made by the Mets offense this afternoon was from Ronny Cedeno, who hit a pinch hit two- run homerun off Jason Marquis in the 6^th inning after coming on for Harvey.  Marquis had a strong game for the Padres, retiring 14 batters after allowing a leadoff single to start the game. 

Jason Bay had a sacrifice fly in the 7^th inning to bring the Mets within two runs, but again was hitless at the plate.  Bay finished the road trip going 2-for-31, good for a .065 batting average.  Bay should be in the lineup Tuesday night against a lefty but should expect to see his playing time diminish and dwindle as the season winds down. 

Next up for the Mets, after a day off on Monday, is a three game series with Jose Reyes and the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.  Reyes will bring a major league season high 24 game hitting streak with him.  Jon Niese (8-5, 3.72 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets in opener and be opposed by Marlins starter Wade LeBlanc (1-1, 1.35 ERA).  By game time Tuesday, the Mets should also have better assessments on the extent of the injuries to Tim Byrdak and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.