The Mets came back to tie the game twice on Sunday afternoon, but after a long rain delay they ultimately fell to the Houston Astros, 10-5, dropping the rubber game and falling to a game under .500 at the season’s halfway point.
Here are the key takeaways…
-With the game tied at four runs a piece heading into the bottom of the ninth, mother nature had other ideas. As a storm rolled through, the tarp came onto the field, causing a lengthy delay. After two hours and 47 minutes, the game resumed.
-Unable to score in the bottom of the ninth, the game went to extras where the Mets gave up a run in the top of the 10th. However, with the free runner at second base, Brandon Nimmo ripped a double down the right field line to tie the game but New York was unable to drive him home as the winning run which cost them.
-With not a lot of arms at his disposal, manager Carlos Mendoza went with Matt Festa, who was just recalled from Triple-A earlier in the day, for the top of the 11th. After an intentional walk, Festa followed up with three straight hits that gave Houston an 8-5 lead. The Astros tacked on two more in the inning as the right-hander allowed five runs (four earned) in his Mets debut. The Amazins didn’t have a third comeback in them and were unable to score in the bottom half of the inning.
–Luis Severino got off to a little bit of a shaky start, allowing a Jon Singleton solo homer in the second and then a couple more runs in the fourth. But the right-hander settled in nicely, as he’s done for most of the season, and he gave the Mets’ depleted bullpen some much needed length.
Severino went 7.0 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking one.
-It was a bullpen day for the Astros, but the Mets hitters had no answers for Houston pitching in the early innings. Shawn Dubin started and went 3.1 innings without allowing a hit, and the Mets didn’t record their first hit until the top of the sixth, when Nimmo hit a clean single to lead off the inning.
Later in that inning, it was Mark Vientos — who else — who delivered with a clutch two-out double down the left field line, putting the Mets on the board at 4-2.
-Nimmo came up big again in the bottom of the seventh, launching his 100th career home run to tie the game at 4-4. Nimmo had his struggles to start the season, but he’s been a huge catalyst of the Mets’ recent turnaround, getting on base, driving in runs, and playing strong defense in the outfield. He finished 3-for-4 with a walk, three RBI and two runs scored.
–Adrian Houser, the reliever, continues to be a revelation. Houser struggled mightily as a starter, pitching to an 8.55 ERA in seven starts before losing his spot in the rotation. But as a reliever, Houser continues to shine. He threw a scoreless eighth inning and then came back out and shut the Astros down again in the ninth.
Again, the Mets need players to step up with the bullpen shorthanded, and Houser has proven himself as a valuable multiple-inning option.
Game MVP: Brandon Nimmo
Despite the loss, Nimmo tied the game twice with a two-run home run in the seventh and an RBI double in the 10th. He also had the first Met hit of the day after New York was held without one for the first five innings as the outfielder stays red hot.
Highlights
Upcoming schedule
The Mets hit the road for eight straight games, starting with four games against the Washington Nationals.
It will be a battle of lefties on Monday, with David Peterson facing MacKenzie Gore. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m.
Source Agencies
