The Mets lost their seventh straight game Friday night in Game 1 of a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Here are the takeaways…
– Tylor Megill took the ball for New York looking to end the team’s losing streak. His outing started well with a scoreless first inning, but quickly fell apart thereafter.
In the second, with two goals and two outs, the Pirates converted on a double steal attempt that put both base runners in scoring position. It turned out to be expensive because Austin Hedgesthe No. 9 batter, hit a base-rule double on the right-field line that earned Pittsburgh two runs. Starling Marte seemed to have a beat on it, but got up towards the end and allowed the ball to fall into fair territory.
– The wheels fell completely in the third run, though. After Andrew McCutchen hit a one-out field single, Megill looked like he could get out of more trouble by getting carlos santana ground one to second base where Francois Lindor was perfectly positioned for the easy 6-6-3 double play. However, Lindor kicked the ball and everyone was safe.
A walk charged the bases (without the ball leaving the infield) before Ke’Bryan Hayes leads in two with only one. With runners on the corners, Ji Hwan Bae then hit a ball along the third base line which Eduardo Escobar handled but made an errant throw to first base. The error allowed two more runs to score and put Bae on third base. The Pirates would score another run in the frame to make it five in the inning and seven for the game.
–Just looking to give the Mets some length, Megill went out for a fourth inning and retired the first two batters before walking McCutchen and giving up a single to Santana that ended his night. In its place, Zach Muckenhirn who was just recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, allowed back-to-back RBI doubles that closed the book on Megill’s night.
The right-hander went 3.2 innings and allowed nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits and three walks. His season ERA now sits at 5.14.
Down 10-2 after four innings, Muckenhirn stayed for the cleanup and pitched 2.1 innings of relief, allowing three earned runs on six hits and one walk.
– One night after giving up the home run at Ozzie Albies and the Atlanta Braves, Tommy Hunter came back in relief and after a scoreless seventh inning, the right-hander served back-to-back jacks to Santana and Jack SuwinskI it’s 14-2.
– In their last two games, the Mets have allowed 27 runs and 36 hits.
– Offensively, Marc Vientos gave New York a brief 1-0 lead with a single in the second inning and Lindor tied it at 2 with a solo shot in the third before his fielding error led to five runs.
The Mets had a five-run inning of their own in the ninth, but it was too little, too late as they lost their seventh straight game in a laugh.
Strong points
And after
The Mets and Pirates continue their streak at PNC Park Saturday afternoon starting at 4:05 p.m. on SNY.
HPR Kodai Senga (5-3, 3.75 ERA) will face RHP John Oviedo (3-4, 4.29 MPM).