METS NEED A LOT OF HELP
Loss to Braves shows it may take a ‘miracle’
Even Mickey Callaway says it may “take a miracle.”
Callaway seemingly implied he saw the writing on the wall of the Mets’ 2019 season during an interview with WFAN’s Mike Francesa prior to the Mets’ 6-2 loss to the Braves at Citi Field on Friday.
The game was the start of a week- end-long celebration of the Mets’ 1969 World Series champion team — the team that earned the ‘Miracle Mets’ moniker. But even a miracle might not be enough for these Mets (37-46), who dropped their sixth straight game, fell nine games under .500 and now trail the firstplace Braves by 12 games.
In yet another game this week (and this season), the pen was responsible for letting opposing teams pull away.
“It doesn’t have to be a miracle, but if we don’t change what’s been happening and it keeps going this way, heck it will take a miracle,” Callaway said, elaborating on his earlier comments being merely a play on words for the anniversary. “We have to start today.”
The Mets were only trailing by one run in the eighth inning when Robert Gsellman blew away any hope they had of tying the game. The righty gave up singles to Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis then loaded the bases after he hit Austin Riley with a pitch that just skimmed the side of his right arm. The die was already cast when Johan Camargo stepped to the plate and doubled on the first pitch Gsellman threw, scoring Freeman, Markakis and Riley.
Callaway told Francesa the team “leans on our starters more than anyone in baseball” and relievers pitch “just about the least amount of innings and that’s what’s been killing us.” Gsellman, Wilmer Font and Stephen Nogosek each pitched one inning Friday.
Callaway predicted Jacob deGrom would “step up and go all nine” Friday. The Mets ace, however, got his pitch count up early and was pulled after six innings and 107 pitches. He was charged with three earned runs on six hits, with seven strikeouts.
“I made a couple of mistakes and they capitalized on them,” deGrom said. “To lose that many in a row is definitely frustrating. These guys did a good job of battling and trying to get back into the game. Theres a lot of tough outs in that lineup.”
In the second inning deGrom gave up a one-out, tworun home run to Riley. Then in the third, after Ronald Acuna singled to center field, and an intentional walk to Freeman followed by and Ozzie Albies groundout, Josh Donaldson popped a sacrifice fly out to Dominic Smith in left field, which allowed Acuna to score and the Braves to take a 3-0 lead.
The Mets would eventually get on the board.
Pete Alonso tried to lead the charge in the fourth. He launched his 28th home run of his season and of his majorleague career over the left field wall off a pitch thrown by Mike Soroka to make it a 3-1 game. Robinson Cano helped continue that energy with a single hit toward third but that was all the Mets would get that inning.
“Our job is in offense to score runs no matter the situation,” Alonso said. “Regardless of how the guys are pitching, for us it’s just score more runs than the other team.
“It’s unfortunate, but for us we’re working hard and that’s all we can do.”