METS MAULED BY FISH; TEBOW A STAR
Free-falling Amazin's sinking toward abyss of NL basement
MIAMI — Corey Oswalt on short notice was better than the Mets’ remaining options, but just barely.
Originally scheduled to be entrusted with Saturday’s game at Marlins Park — in what would have been his first major league start — the rookie right-hander was moved up in the rotation when Jacob deGrom’s family issues became a factor Friday.
Oswalt learned of the situation about three hours before the scheduled first pitch. His first two innings went smoothly enough, but Oswalt never escaped the third in the Mets’ 8-2 loss that moved them within one game of the Marlins for the NL East basement.
“I kind of knew from the [start] I didn’t really have the feel for my secondary pitches, so I just tried to battle through it,” Oswalt said. “I just didn’t make enough pitches when I needed to and put the team in a bad spot.”
Oswalt downplayed the short notice before his start, and manager Mickey Callaway said it’s possible the situation benefited the rookie.
“I have seen it work both ways,” Callaway said. “I’ve seen it help guys out because there’s not another 24 hours of anxiety when this happens, but tonight it just didn’t work out in his favor and our favor.”
DeGrom, who leads the major leagues with a 1.69 ERA, is scheduled to pitch Saturday in the slot Oswalt previously had occupied.
Oswalt lasted only 2 2/3 innings and allowed six earned runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout. The Mets (32-47) lost for the ninth time in 10 games and could officially be the NL’s worst team by the time this weekend concludes.
The Marlins (33-50) still hold that distinction by a thread, but they can at least boast of a young nucleus that isn’t burdened by bloated contracts.
Oswalt, who earned Eastern League Pitcher of the Year honors last season at Double-A Binghamton, is among the young players the Mets want to see perform in the coming weeks as they attempt to gauge what they might have heading toward July 31 and the non-waiver trade deadline.
“When we get the opportunity I think we need to see them, get our eyes on them and kind of figure out who they are,” Callaway said. “They are part of our future, so we’re going to continue to develop these guys when we can and it’s good to see them up here competing.”
The Marlins battered Oswalt in the third, an inning in which nine batters came to the plate and six runs scored. JT Riddle delivered the loudest hit, a three-run homer that buried the Mets in a 6-0 hole.
“Even in the first two innings he didn’t have any of his breaking stuff,” Callaway said. “He was struggling getting that stuff over and they were sitting on the fastball and they scored a few runs off him.”
Lewis Brinson homered leading off the inning. J.T. Realmuto and Starlin Castro each delivered an RBI single in the inning.
The Mets were quiet against Sandy Alcantara in his first major league start. Overall, the righthander allowed one earned run on three hits and five walks over five innings.
Devin Mesoraco stroked an RBI double in the fourth that got the Mets their first run. The Mets loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth, but Wilmer Flores hit into a double play — killing a potentially big inning.
The last time the Mets came to Marlins Park, they moved to 10-1 with a three-game April sweep. The Mets won the following night, but have been in free-fall mode ever since.