Slowstarting Mets fire Chili Davis
Adam Wainwright came off the COVID19 injured list and hung tough, St. Louis got a lightsout performance from its bullpen and the Cardinals beat the Mets 65 in St. Louis on Monday night for their fifth straight win.
After the game, the Mets fired hitting coach Chili Davis and assistant hitting coach Tom Slater. New York has struggled badly with runners in scoring position this season, a trouble spot last year as well when Davis worked remotely because of coronavirus concerns.
Several accomplished hitters are off to slow starts for the Mets (1112), including $341 million newcomer Francisco Lindor.
“It was a difficult decision to make,” acting general manager Zack Scott said. “It’s not about 23 games of results.
“We just felt like the players needed a different level of support and maybe some different skills brought into the mix.”
The Cardinals were clinging to a onerun lead in the ninth with two outs and a runner on base when the lights at Busch Stadium flickered, then went out for a moment.
“Thank God a pitch wasn’t in midflight or a ball wasn’t going in the air for a flyball or something like that to end the game,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “I have no explanation.”
When play resumed, reliever Alex Reyes walked Pete Alonso before retiring Smith on a flyball for the final out.
Nolan Arenado and Harrison Bader homered to back Wainwright’s first win of the season.
Wainwright (13) had been out because of virus contact tracing. He fell behind 52 in the third inning, but didn’t give up any more runs before leaving with two outs in the sixth. Four St. Louis relievers combined for 31⁄3 hitless innings.
Joey Lucchesi allowed six runs on seven hits in 22⁄3 innings after being recalled from the Mets’ alternate training site to make the start. He has not pitched into the fourth inning in any of his three starts this year.
Padres 2, Pirates 0: Former Giants left-hander Tyler Anderson (2-3) pitched six innings without allowing a hit for visiting Pittsburgh before allowing a walk, a single and Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly to open the seventh inning. Anderson left after another fly out and Austin Nola’s RBI double. Mark Melancon got his 10th save of the season for San Diego.
Twins 6, Rangers 5: Kenta Maeda struck out a seasonhigh eight and Alex Kirilloff kept up his torrid start with two
doubles for host Minnesota.
Phillies 4, Brewers 3: Vince Velasquez threw six sharp innings, J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer and host Philadelphia beat Milwaukee. Velasquez allowed one run and four hits, striking out six in his longest outing this season. Hector Neris struck out Lorenzo Cain with the bases loaded in the ninth to preserve the win with a 40-pitch save.
Indians 8, Royals 6: Eddie Rosario hit a tie-breaking three-run homer to send visiting Cleveland over Kansas City. Josh Naylor added a two-run shot off reliever Jakob Junis two batters later.
Dodgers-Cubs, postponed: The game at Wrigley Field was postponed because the forecast called for inclement weather. The teams will play a split doubleheader Tuesday.