Oswalt’s encouraging, but Amazin’s get 1-hit
WASHINGTON — Corey Oswalt might rank as the Mets’ eighth-best starting pitcher, but his flashes of respectability this season have served a purpose, allowing manager Mickey Callaway to keep Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman in the bullpen.
The rookie Oswalt again showed his value Saturday, but his teammates went belly-flopping into the Potomac in a 6-0 loss the Nationals.
Michael Conforto’s fourth-inning single was the Mets’ only hit against Austin Voth and the Nationals’ bullpen, and Mets relievers couldn’t keep the game close.
Oswalt (3-3) allowed two earned runs on four hits over five innings as Zack Wheeler’s replacement in the rotation, after the right-hander was shut down for the season this week because of workload concerns.
Oswalt surrendered a two-run homer to Trea Turner in the third. Jerry Blevins entered in the sixth and allowed a three-run blast to Matt Wieters. Tyler Baschlor allowed an RBI double to Bryce Harper in the eighth for the final run.
Oswalt will receive another start before the season concludes, according to Callaway.
“[Oswalt] has got enough weapons to go out there, and compete and he’s been doing that for us quite a bit,” Callaway said.
As a starter, Oswalt has pitched to a 4.93 ERA this season. His ERA as a reliever is 12.54.
Any lingering doubt in Jay Bruce’s mind has been erased.
As the Mets outfielder/first baseman continues to sizzle since returning from a two-month stint on the disabled list with a hip strain, he has become more certain his early-season struggles were health-related.
“Last year was arguably the best season in my career, and you just don’t forget [how to play],” Bruce said.
Over his past 15 games, entering Saturday, Bruce had a .999 OPS, which included five homers. Suddenly there have been fewer questions about whether the Mets will receive any value on the three-year, $39M contract Bruce received last winter.
Bruce tried to play through the discomfort and was stuck with a .613 OPS in mid-June, when he hit the DL.