Niese Unable to Handle the Desert Heat

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Mets vs. Diamondbacks Post Game Recap 7/27

The Mets were unable to build momentum after a great debut from Matt Harvey on Thursday the Mets lost 11-5 on Friday.

Jon Niese had one of the worst starts of his career giving up eight runs matching his career high. Niese went six innings allowing nine hits, one walk, eight runs six of which were earned due to a throwing error by Niese. The loss moves Niese to (7-5) for the season.

Elvin Ramirez also had a tough time in his one inning of work allowing four hits, and three earned runs in the 7th inning.

Ike Davis was able to go 1 for 4 while hitting his 17th homerun in the 2nd inning of Josh Collmenter.

David Wright was the big run producer for the Mets hitting a three-run shot in the 3rd inning for his 16th homerun of the season, and brings his RBI total to 70.

Leadoff hitter Ruben Tejada continued his good hitting this season going 2 for 5, and scoring a run.

The Mets will look to bounce back on Saturday as Chris Young (2-4, 3.91) will face Ian Kennedy (8-8, 4.20).

Mets Designate Miguel Batista for Assignment

Mets Designate Miguel Batista for Assignment

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Miguel Batista will no longer be a part of “the best team in baseball,” as the Mets designated him for assignment before this afternoon’s game.

Batista, 41, is 1-3 with a 4.82 ERA making five starts and appearing in 25 other games as a reliever. 

Batista last pitched Saturday, suffering the loss after lasting only three innings and surrendering four earned runs.

“It was very tough,” Mets manger Terry Collins said of the decision.  “Miguel’s done a great job here.  He’s a first-class guy and brings a lot to the party as far as his clubhouse presence, especially that Dominican presence with [Jordany] Valdespin and a couple young guys.  He’s been great helping those guys mature at this level and he’s done a good job.”

Batista’s presence in the clubhouse might be missed, but not his performance on the field.  Designating Batista for assignment does cause some more problems for the Mets.  They are now in need of another starter to pitch Thursday’s game in Arizona as that was Batista’s next scheduled start.

This will add fuel to the fire of Mets top prospect Matt Harvey being called up to make the start.  Harvey did struggle in his start for Triple-A Buffalo Saturday, but his manager said that Harvey was not in the game.  It seemed more that his head was in New York than Buffalo with the rampant rumors that he would be called up.

“Hopefully he clears [waivers] and decides to stay and goes down and pitches a little bit more,” Collins continued to say before the Mets took on the Dodgers Sunday afternoon.

Right-handed reliever Elvin Ramirez was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Batista for the time being.