Gsellman just too much
Mets starter helps own cause
NEW YORK – In too many ways, the Milwaukee Brewers could not handle New York Mets starting pitcher Robert Gsellman on Monday.
The Brewers’ hitters did little damage against the longhaired righty, scoring just one earned run on three hits over seven innings. On the flip side, Gsellman delivered two runs at the plate that proved huge in the Mets pulling out a 4-2 victory at Citi Field.
“We didn’t get enough going offensively,” said manager Craig Counsell, whose club finished with five hits. “There was not much happening. (Gsellman) was efficient with his pitches and got some quick outs.
“We didn’t create enough pressure for him early in the game to make him work. That’s why he was able to get deep in the game.”
Starter Matt Garza and reliever Rob Scahill had just enough moments to regret as New York scored three times in the fifth and once in the sixth to pull out the victory. It started with singles by Asdrubal Cabrera and Wilmer Flores with none down in the fifth.
Garza fell behind in the count, 3-2, to No. 8 hitter Rene Rivera, who laced a run-scoring double into the left-field corner to tie the game. Gsellman, batting .071, followed with a sacrifice fly to right to put the Mets on top, 2-1.
Garza then made a mistake on a 0-2 fastball to Michael Conforto, who lined a RBI double into the right-filed corner to put the Mets on top by two runs.
After Domingo Santana narrowed the gap to 3-2 with a two-out homer in the top of the sixth, Garza retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the inning. But Cabrera drew a walk and Flores singled for the third time, and Counsell lifted Garza in favor of Scahill.
Scahill hit Rivera with a pitch to load the bases, then walked Gsellman on a 3-2 pitch to force in a run and make it 4-2. Balls three and four were borderline pitches but it was a position you don’t want to put yourself in as the pitcher.
Gsellman, who entered the game with a 6.45 earned run average, allowed only three hits and the one earned run over his seven innings, with two walks and five strikeouts. Garza was charged with seven hits and four runs over 5 2/3 innings, with two walks and four strikeouts.
“Gsellman threw a hell of a game,” Garza said. “I had that fifth inning when they kept finding holes. A couple of balls, they hit well. It’s not like they were screaming liners; just enough to get over the infield. They pieced a few together and that was enough right there.”
The Brewers had a chance for some last-inning dramatics against Mets closer Addison Reed, who served up the memorable three-run homer to Manny Piña that allowed Milwaukee to pull out a remarkable 11-9 victory at Miller Park on Mother’s Day.
This time, with two on and no outs, Reed struck out Piña, then whiffed Jonathan Villar and retired Orlando Arcia on a fly to left to end the game. BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
Manny Piña was back behind the plate after returning Sunday from a swollen and bruised left elbow (HBP) to contribute three hits and pick a runner off first base. Piña’s release time behind the plate is among the best in the league and Counsell has been impressed.
“Manny is a late bloomer but he’s always had a strong throwing arm,” Counsell said. “Manny has done a tremendous job picking off some runners. He’s got five already, so that surprises you a little bit. He has done a nice job with base stealers as well (nabbing 32% of them).
“Manny is a great story. He’s a 30-year-old guy in his first full season in the big leagues. He really stuck to it.”
Eric Thames, who started in left field, remained mired in a deep slump. By going 0 for 3 with a walk, he is hitless in his last 19 at-bats and is batting .186 in May after hitting .345 in April. STAT SHEET
There was no score in the first inning, which is unusual for these clubs. The Brewers rank first in the majors with 47 firstinning runs and the Mets are second with 44.
Brewers catchers Jett Bandy and Pina entered the day leading the National League at that position with a .503 slugging percentage and 93 total bases. TAKEAWAY
The Brewers just didn’t do enough to help themselves in this game. The offense was mostly quiet throughout the day and the pitchers made just enough mistakes to the bottom of New York’s lineup, including Gsellman. You need to do more than this to win a game. RECORD
This year: 27-24 (14-15 home; 13-9 away).
Last year: 23-28. NEXT GAME
Tuesday: Brewers at Mets, 6:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Zach Davies (5-3, 5.33) vs. New York Tyler Pill (0-1, 13.50). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.