The Mets lost their second straight game to the Toronto Blue Jays, falling 2-1, on Saturday afternoon in front of 37,704 at Citi Field. The loss overshadowed a fine bounce back start for Taylor Megillwho was wild but mostly effective.
Here are the takeaways…
– The Mets’ offense has only scored 11 runs over the last five games, including just one total in two games against Toronto. The Mets entered Saturday averaging 4.36 runs per game. The MLB average entering the day was 4.55. On Saturday, the Mets were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine runners.
– With the score tied at 1 and one out in the Toronto ninth, George Springer singled and then stole second. One out later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocked in the go-ahead run with a grounder down the third-base line that went for a double. The Mets could have chosen to intentionally walk Guerrero to pitch to Cavan Biggiowho had entered the game in the previous inning as a pinch-runner and was batting .181 at the time, but did not.
– In the Blue Jays’ eighth, Brandon City led off with a double and pinch-runner Biggio went to third on a grounder. With the score deadlocked at 1, the Mets moved the infield in and it paid off – Whit Merrifield smacked a grounder to Francisco Lindor at short and Lindor threw out Biggio at the plate. The Jays continued to threaten when Dalton Varsho singled off reliever David RobertsonRobertson pocket fanned Alejandro Kirk to end the inning.
– Megill was making his 12th start of the season and coming off two clunkers. But this one was much better and it came against the team that entered the day leading MLB in hits. Megill had given up 12 runs (eight earned) over 7.2 combined innings (a 9.39 ERA) in his previous two outings, but pitched into the sixth Saturday, allowing just one run and five hits.
He had a little problem with walks, however. Megill, who had been allowing 4.5 walks per nine innings, gave out five free passes to the Jays. This season, Megill has pitched better at Citi Field than on the road and he trimmed his ERA from 4.67 to 4.40 overall, getting a nice hand when he came out of the game.
– Megill left with one out and two runners on in the sixth inning and Buck Showalter brought in lefty Brooks Raley to pitch to Varsho. Raley got Varsho but gave up a scorched liner to the next hitter, Kirk. Lindor could not glove it and the ball went into the outfield. Belt raced home from second to tie the score at 1. The exit velocity of Kirk’s liner was measured at 99.4 miles per hour. Raley retired Kevin Kiermaier on a fly ball to end the inning.
– The Mets took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Daniel Vogelbach in the second inning. Starling Marte singled to start the frame and then Vogelbach – the focus of some fan ire because he’s a DH whose best skill is on-base percentage – doubled to center to drive him home. It was Vogelbach’s first extra-base hit since May 7th and fifth double overall. He has seven extra-base hits this season. But the Mets could not capitalize further – Toronto starter Jose Berrios retired the next three hitters in order. Berrios threw six innings and allowed four hits and one run.
Highlights
What’s next
The Mets will try to avoid the sweep on Sunday afternoon with first pitch set for 1:10 pm on SNY.
RHP Kodai Senga will face off against RHP Yusei Kikuchi.