Swept Away (Or How I Got McGreevy'd Into Submission)

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The Mets had a no good, very bad day. Not only were they swept in their day-night doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals, but one of their players got injured.

In Game 1, Blade Tidwell only allowed two batted balls with an over 100 mph exit velocity, but he still gave up nine hits. He walked three batters and allowed six earned runs while only striking out two in three and two thirds innings. It’s an auspicious beginning, but there’s hope. Still, because of his subpar performance, he doesn’t get the nickname Darth Blader, which he earned in his Triple-A start exactly one year ago yesterday. 

Let’s get right to the top of the eighth. The Cardinals were ahead 6-3. Old chum Phil Maton was pressed into duty to pitch for St. Louis. Luis Torrens began the frame with a walk. Jeff McNeil reached on a 3-6 fielder’s choice, erasing Torrens. Luisangel Acuña got on base for the fourth time in the game, singling to right to move McNeil to second. Pinch hitter Tyrone Taylor also got a base hit, loading the bases with one out. Francisco Lindor took a pitch below the strike zone and served it to right center, scoring two to cut the lead to 6-5. Lefty JoJo Romero was tasked to stop the bleeding. Juan Soto came back from an 0-2 count to walk to load the bases. With the count full on Pete Alonso, the Polar Bear was called out on strikes on a perfectly placed backdoor slider. Was it really a strike? Well…

Brandon Nimmo flew out to center to end the inning. Reed Garrett, like Génesis Cabrera, Austin Warren, and Huascar Brazobán before him, did a good job not letting the Cardinals get any more runs after Blade Tidwell left the game. In the top of the ninth, Mark Vientos led off with a hard-hit single to center. Pinch runner Starling Marte reached second on a wild pitch. But Luis Torrens struck out on a slider. Then Jeff McNeil lined out to right, moving Marte to third. You were feeling good here - sure there were two outs, but the hot-hitting Acuña was at the dish. Alas, he popped up to second to end the comeback attempt. The Cardinals finally beat the Mets on the tenth try. The Mets lost their 34th game of the season every year since 2010. Weird.

In Game 2, the Mets hit into some bad luck, the Cardinals played ridiculously good defense, and St. Louis reliever Michael McGreevy decided to pitch the game of his life. This combined to give the Cardinals a 5-4 victory.

Tylor Megill had his worst start of the season. In the second, a batter after Nolan Arenado inexplicably hit his first of two infield singles for the evening, Alec Burleson clubbed his first home run of the season, a shot to right center to make it 2-0. The Mets finally got to the woeful Andre Pallante in the top of the third. Tyrone Taylor, who had a great series even if the Mets didn’t, singled to start. Francisco Lindor followed with a bse hit to right. A Juan Soto fielder’s choice erased Lindor but moved Taylor to third. Pete Alonso came through with an RBI single to left. After a Mark Vientos walk and a Brandon Nimmo strikeout, Starling Marte, making his first start of the year in the field and feeling frisky and fancy free (until he was taken out of the game in the 5th), came up big with a two RBI hit. Francisco Alvarez followed with his own ribeye steak single. 4-2 Mets.

Big Drip gave up the lead as soon as possible. In the bottom of the third, Megill walked back-to-back batters with one out. Both would end up scoring. With two outs, Nolan Arenado hit a slow grounder to Vientos at third. It feels to me and possibly only me but I feel like Pete Alonso should have made the pick here?

If we’re going to talk about Alonso being a better first base fielder than he gets credit for (which is true), then we should talk about the times he doesn’t come through, no? In any event, if Alonso makes the play the inning is over and it’s 4-2 Mets. Instead, it was 4-3, and then Willson Conteras singled home Masyn Winn to tie it.

In the top of the fourth, Pallante was inexplicably still in the game when Juan Soto was robbed of a three-run homer to center by Victor Scott II. That would turn out to be huge. After Pallante walked Alonso, Michael McGreevy stepped in and proceeded to throw five and a third scoreless innings, allowing one measly hit. He had some help with more great defense, but I don’t think I had ever seen such a performance before if I’m being honest with y’all.

The only run the Mets bullpen allowed in either game came in the sixth when Fantastic Max Kranick - or as he’s currently known: Cromulent Kranick - permitted a Yohel Pozo bloop single and a Victor Scott II double that split the center fielder and right fielder. That made it 5-4 Cardinals and that ended up being the final score.

On the one hand, the Mets keep losing only by one run, which shows some bad luck. On the other, the Mets left 22 runners on base yesterday. Can’t do that. 

The Mets are still in first place in the NL East. The Phillies lost yesterday, so New York has a 2.5 game lead in the division.

Jesse Winker got hurt in the “oblique area” throwing the ball from left field to home plate in the 3rd inning. He got an MRI and will get more testing done in New York. It probably didn’t help that it was his first time playing the field this season. Anyway, Carlos Mendoza said the IL is likely for The Wink Man. Either Brett Baty - who is suffering from a minor toe injury - or Jared Young will probably take Winker’s place on the roster. Both are lefty hitters. Young can play first base, third base, and the corner outfield positions. Young is currently hitting .281 with a .983 OPS in Syracuse.

So, in Winker's first game playing the field this season, he hurt himself making a throw. In Starling Marte's first game playing the field this season, he looked 10 years younger. He even stole a base! But when he was taken out in the middle of a tied ball game, people panicked and assumed I jinxed him. Nope - Mendoza said the plan all along was to take Starling out after five. I would argue with that idea, except we literally just saw the danger in bringing in someone to play the outfield after exclusively DHing for the first five weeks of the season. Touche, Mendy.

Danny Young was placed on the 60-day IL to make room for Blade Tidwell on the 40-man. Young, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic, is going to get Tommy John surgery. That sucks for Mr. Young. And society, one could argue.

After Game 1, Tidwell was sent down for Dedniel Nuñez before Game 2 of the doubleheader. Austin Warren was designated as the 27th man for the doubleheader, so he’ll be traveling back to Syracuse today.

Keith Hernandez implied that you can’t say “drag bunt” anymore, then went ahead and said it anyway. He also said “Julio Iglesias” when he meant Jose Iglesias. That made more sense - both are singers, technically. During Game 2 he repeatedly used the term “tin cup”, then basically admitted he didn’t know what it meant. 

For the FWIW files: Despite hitting into bad luck (again) yesterday, Juan Soto now has a higher OPS than Francisco Lindor.

There’s an El Troll chain now.

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets fell short in their 9th inning comeback attempt, losing to the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (Yankees affiliate) 4-2. Donovan Walton and Billy McKinney went yard for the SMets. Old friends Kevin Herget, Ty Adcock, and Chris Devenski all pitched in a bullpen game. 

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies lost Game 1 of a doubleheader 1-0 to the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers). D’Andre Smith recorded the only hit for Bing. Jonah Tong was the hard-luck loser, allowing one earned run in four innings of work. He walked three and struck out eight. 

The Ponies got revenge in Game 2, winning that one 6-4. William Lugo went 3 for 4 with a double and a home run. Ryan Lambert picked up the six-out save.

And to top off their evening, they got a mention on Last Week Tonight!

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones beat the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) 7-1. Jefrey De Los Santos went 2 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBI. Jacob Reimer had a multihit game as well. Noah Hall got the dub. He went five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, striking out six. 

The Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins) defeated the Low-A St. Lucie Mets 4-2. Simon Juan went 2 for 4. Kevin Villaviciendo tripled. Franklin Gomez was the losing pitcher. He allowed three earned runs in two and two thirds innings. He allowed five hits and two walks and struck out one.

The Mets will look to bounce back in Phoenix tonight against the Diamondbacks. Griffin Canning (4-1, 2.61 ERA) will match-up against Ryne Nelson (1-0, 5.82 ERA). First pitch is set for 9:40 pm eastern. The game will air on SNY.