An abysmal road trip ended Sunday with this beleaguered bunch managing all of two hits against Zack Wheeler, who sent the Mets home battered and bruised with a 3-0 loss to the Phillies for a seventh defeat in eight games.

Wheeler, who fired a shutout, retired 22 straight batters after surrendering a double to Brandon Nimmo leading off the first, helping the Phillies win their eighth straight game. Nimmo also delivered the Mets’ only other hit, a single in the ninth. The Mets fell 2 ½ games behind in the NL East, after going 1-6 against the Marlins and Phillies over the past week.

“I visited the players in the clubhouse,” owner Steve Cohen tweeted before the game. “They are ready and in a good frame of mind for this game.”

That may have been true, but it didn’t lead to execution against a pitcher who might have become the front runner for the National League Cy Young award with Sunday’s outing. The Mets (56-55) are headed home to face a Nationals team that was dismantled at the trade deadline, but then begin a stretch in which they will play the Dodgers and Giants, powerhouses from the NL West, for 13 straight games.

Only adding to the Mets’ misery, Javier Baez departed the game in the fifth inning with left hip tightness, a potential crusher to an already underwhelming lineup.

Michael Conforto walked in the eighth inning to snap Wheeler’s streak of 22 straight batters retired, but the right-hander didn’t relent in getting the final five outs. He muzzled a lineup that had only two hits through the first eight innings on Saturday before breaking out in the ninth with three homers.

Taijuan Walker allowed solo homers to Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto in the first inning and then settled into a groove until the sixth, when Bryce Harper cleared the left-field fence to extend the Phillies’ lead to 3-0.

Walker, in his best start of the second half, allowed three runs on four hits and one walk over six innings in which he threw 89 pitches. The right-hander had allowed at least four earned runs in each of his previous four starts. His biggest problem has been the long ball, with 10 homers allowed in 21 innings since the All-Star break.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

A disastrous week for manager Luis Rojas’ crew turned into a full-fledged raging inferno Saturday, when the Mets lineup hibernated for eight innings and woke up just long enough to create drama.

In another underwhelming performance, the Mets totaled six hits in a 5-3 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park that pushed them 1 ½ games behind Philadelphia in an NL East race they had led for three months before losing Friday. After this latest loss the Mets were tied for second with the Braves, who hosted the Nationals later Saturday.

Michael Conforto, Jonathan Villar and James McCann hit consecutive home runs leading off the ninth against Mauricio Llovera before Ian Kennedy got the final three outs, leaving the tying runs on base.

The Mets lost for the sixth time in seven games, a stretch in which they have averaged 2.85 runs. It won’t get any easier on Sunday, when they are scheduled to face a Cy Young award candidate, former Met Zack Wheeler. The Phillies have won seven straight and made it clear they can be the best in this division of disappointments.

The scary part for the Mets is that after three games versus the Nationals at Citi Field, the difficult part of the schedule awaits, with 13 consecutive games (Aug. 13-26) against the Giants and Dodgers, the NL’s first- and third-best teams by record, respectively.

Brad Miller’s second homer of the game, a solo blast in the eighth inning off Yennsy Diaz gave the Phillies a five-run cushion. Conforto, Villar and McCann then peppered the right-field seats in the ninth to get the Mets closer.

After four superb innings, Tylor Megill imploded in the fifth — an inning in which the Phillies sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs. Miller broke a scoreless tie with a homer leading off the inning and Odubel Herrera’s three-run blast placed the Mets in what had to feel like an insurmountable hole, given the lineup’s woes.

Megill’s unraveling was methodical following the Miller homer. He surrendered a double to Alec Bohm, then retired Ronald Torreyes, before Travis Jankowski walked and Nick Maton flied out. Herrera then jumped on the first pitch, a 95-mph fastball, and cleared the right-field fence.

Megill retired the first nine batters he faced before allowing a double to Herrera leading off the fourth. But the Phillies never got Herrera any closer to the plate. Jean Segura was retired on a pop-up attempting to bunt and Megill retired Bryce Harper before striking out J.T. Realmuto.

Megill’s double in the fifth — his first extra-base hit in the major leagues — was wasted as neither Brandon Nimmo nor Pete Alonso could deliver behind him. Javier Baez’s infield single the previous inning was the Mets’ only other hit to that point.

The Mets wasted an opportunity against lefty Ranger Suarez in the first, when Nimmo and Baez each drew a walk. But Brandon Drury was retired on a comebacker to end the threat.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

The Mets’ 90-day stay in the division’s penthouse concluded Friday night with bats silent in an all-too-familiar scene for a team challenged to score runs. Now they have to catch the Phillies, following a fifth loss in six games, this one 4-2 at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies, with their sixth straight victory, moved a half-game ahead of the Mets in the NL East. The Phillies last sat alone in first place on May 7, before the Mets tied them the following day.

On Friday, the Mets went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position against Kyle Gibson and the Phillies’ bullpen. Gibson, a right-hander acquired at the trade deadline from Texas, allowed one run on four hits and four walks over six innings.

Bryce Harper all but sealed it for the Phillies with a monstrous two-run homer to center off Edwin Diaz in the eighth that buried the Mets. Diaz, who returned after two days away from the team on the paternity list, hadn’t pitched since last Saturday. Harper was serenaded by chants of “M-V-P” by the crowd as he rounded the bases.

Marcus Stroman threw 91 pitches over five innings in which he allowed two earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk. It was an improvement over his Sunday start against the Reds, which included four earned runs allowed over 5 ²/₃ innings.

Gibson’s first major league RBI, on a single in the fifth, put the Mets in a 2-1 hole. Brad Miller led off the inning with a towering fly ball to right field, which Michael Conforto couldn’t reach, and it caromed off the fence for a triple. The Phillies scored their first run in the second inning, on Didi Gregorius’ 10th homer of the season.

After leaving the bases loaded three times a day earlier, the Mets continued the trend in the fourth inning. Tomas Nido walked to load the bases with nobody out, after Conforto singled and Jonathan Villar reached on Brad Miller’s error, but that was all for the Mets in the inning. Gibson struck out Stroman and got Brandon Nimmo to hit into an inning-ending double play. Nido also hit into an inning-ending double play in the sixth, after Conforto had reached on a leadoff walk.

Dominic Smith delivered a two-out RBI single in the third that tied it 1-1. It continued a recent surge for Smith, who extended his hitting streak to nine games (during which he was hitting .355 entering play).

Nimmo and Pete Alonso each walked in the inning before Smith stroked a single to right field for his 49th RBI of the season.

Villar homered in the ninth off Ian Kennedy for the Mets’ second run.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

In the three weeks since the All-Star break, they have been exposed as pretenders, a team clinging to first place on the strength of a weak NL East. But before this weekend concludes, even that false security of the division lead could dissipate.

The dreary offensive output that has plagued them for most of the season continued in a 4-2 loss to the Marlins a loanDepot park, the Mets’ third loss in four games against the NL East’s cellar dweller.

The Mets left 15 runners on base in wasting a solid pitching performance from Rich Hill. The Marlins seized the game in the eighth, scoring three runs against Jeurys Familia. The dagger was Lewis Brinson’s two-run double that buried the Mets in a 4-1 hole. The Mets rallied in the ninth, adding a run on Brandon Drury’s RBI single, but left the bases loaded for the third time in the game.

Now the Mets get a weekend series in Philadelphia beginning Friday against the Phillies, who had closed within one game of the division lead as their afternoon game against the Nationals was set to commence. The Mets are 8-12 since the All-Star break, but will awaken Friday in first place for a 90th straight day.

In his best start in three since joining the Mets last month, Hill allowed three hits and one walk over five innings in which he allowed one run (unearned). The veteran lefty has pitched five innings in each of his three appearances for the team, limiting his exposure to the third time through the lineup.

Hill surrendered an unearned run in the third, after Michael Conforto misplayed (actually kicked) Miguel Rojas’ single, allowing the runner to reach second. Rojas stole third and scored on Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s sacrifice fly.

Jonathan Villar’s RBI single in the sixth tied it 1-1 after Albert Almora Jr.’s third hit of the afternoon, a double, started the rally. Brandon Nimmo drew a pinch-hit walk and Villar delivered a bloop single. But after a walk to Pete Alonso loaded the bases, Dominic Smith was retired for the final out.

The Mets missed a big opportunity in the first inning, when they loaded the bases with nobody out but failed to score. J.D. Davis and Javier Baez struck out in succession and Michael Conforto was retired to end the inning after Pete Alonso sandwiched a walk in between singles by Jonathan Villar and Dominic Smith.

Another chance was wasted in the fifth by the Mets when Baez struck out after Smith’s two-out single and a walk to Davis.

Drew Smith allowed consecutive singles to Brian Anderson and Joe Panik to start the seventh, but escaped with help from an unorthodox double play: Bryan De La Cruz hit a grounder to Baez, who flipped to Villar at second for the first out. Villar then alertly threw to third and got the lead runner Anderson caught in a rundown for the second out.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

The Mets had desperately needed the spark. Baez, swinging at an Anthony Bass slider that hung over the plate’s outside corner, slapped a shot over the right-field fence leading off the inning, helping to save his team from the hell of losing a third straight game to the lowly Marlins.

The 5-3 victory at loanDepot park ended the Mets’ losing streak at three and at least temporarily halted the Phillies’ ascent in the NL East standings. The Mets will enter their series finale Thursday against the Marlins leading the Phillies by 1 ½ games, with a weekend series in Philadelphia awaiting.

Baez’s full talents were on display on a night the Mets again slogged with runners in scoring position, finishing 2-for-13. Included was an artistic slide by Baez into home plate in the second inning that allowed the Mets to steal a run.

Manager Luis Rojas held a team meeting before the game — a changeup of sorts for a team that had combined to score eight runs in the previous three games. The Mets entered play 29th in MLB, averaging 3.81 runs per game.

“We talked a little bit as a family in there and we are just staying within ourselves for the game of the day and nothing more than that and having fun and trust,” Rojas said.

The manager added: “I had a little talk with the team, nothing like a rah, rah meeting or anything, just getting connected as the family would.”

The Mets flushed a 3-0 lead and watched the Marlins tie it on Jesus Aguilar’s homer leading off the sixth against Jeurys Familia, who had been summoned after Aaron Loup got the final two outs of the previous inning. The homer was the second allowed by Familia in his last four appearances.

In the eighth, Baez homered — his second blast since joining the team on Saturday — and the Mets got an insurance run on a passed ball. Baez’s gestures toward the Marlins dugout were a continuation from a night earlier, when he jawed with Marlins pitcher Richard Bleier.

Carlos Carrasco gave the Mets a second straight solid outing, albeit another shortened one as he builds up in his return from a torn right hamstring. The right-hander lasted 4 ¹/₃ innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

Carrasco didn’t dent until the fifth, when Joe Panik delivered a pinch-hit RBI single for the Marlins’ third hit of the inning. The Marlins pulled within 3-2 on Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s RBI fielder’s choice.

Baez’s base-running guile was on full display in the second when he masterfully eluded catcher Alex Jackson’s tag on a throw to the plate that had him beaten by plenty. Baez hooked his arm around Jackson and touched the plate with a swipe, giving the Mets their second run of the inning, on Tomas Nido’s RBI fielder’s choice.

Dominic Smith doubled leading off the inning and Baez’s single placed runners on the corners before Michael Conforto walked to load the bases. Jonathan Villar’s RBI fielder’s choice brought in a run, followed by Baez’s handiwork on the Nido grounder. A third fielder’s choice in the inning gave the Mets a 3-0 lead — pitcher Zach Thompson threw Carrasco’s comebacker into center field attempting to start a double play.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

And suddenly the walls are closing on the Mets.

On a night Taijuan Walker continued his post-All Star blues and the Mets managed only five hits in a 5-4 loss to the Marlins at loanDepot park, the team’s lead in the NL East shriveled to 1 ½ games, the closest an opponent has come to first place since May 26.

That team in hot pursuit, the Phillies, will face the Mets for three games beginning Friday in Philadelphia. For now, the Mets — who have lost five of six games — need to figure out these cellar-dwelling Marlins.

Team owner Steve Cohen chimed in on Twitter: “We have to get our act together soon.”

It doesn’t get easier for the Mets later in the month, with 13 games against the Giants and Dodgers, the NL’s two top teams.

James McCann provided a glimmer of hope for the Mets with a two-out RBI double in the ninth that sliced the Marlins’ lead to one, but Dylan Floro retired pinch-hitter Brandon Drury to keep the tying run at second base. The Marlins had added an insurance run in the eighth on Jorge Alfaro’s RBI double against Seth Lugo.

Walker scuffled early, but kept the night from becoming a disaster by recovering in the middle innings. Even so, it was a fourth straight lackluster start since the All-Star break for the right-hander, who surrendered four earned runs on eight hits and two walks over 5 ²/₃ innings. In each of his second-half starts, Walker has allowed at least four earned runs and he hasn’t completed six innings in any of them.

Walker’s troubles began in the second, when Alex Jackson — a backup catcher who entered 1-for-27 on the season — cleared the center-field fence for his first career major league homer.

The Marlins added to that lead in the third. Isan Diaz homered leading off the inning before the Marlins loaded the bases with two outs and Bryan De La Cruz delivered a two-run single that buried the Mets in a 4-0 hole. The RBIs were the first of De La Cruz’s major league career. Walker walked Jesus Aguilar and Alfaro, with a single to Lewis Brinson sandwiched in between, to give the Marlins their rally.

The Mets broke through in the fourth, when Jeff McNeil doubled leading off and scored on Dominic Smith’s sacrifice fly, after reaching third on a wild pitch. McNeil remains among the few bright spots in the Mets’ lineup after a July in which he batted .351.

J.D. Davis just missed a game-tying homer to the opposite field in the sixth, stroking an RBI double that pulled the Mets within 4-3. Smith brought in the inning’s first run with his second sacrifice fly of the night, after Pete Alonso had walked and McNeil was drilled by a pitch.

Luis Rojas was ejected in the seventh for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Stu Scheurwater. The ejection was Rojas’ fourth this season.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

The Mets ace, speaking to reporters Tuesday for the first time since his shutdown, indicated he’s moved his arm freely in recent days without soreness and will await an MRI exam at some point to determine if the swelling has subsided enough so he can begin throwing again.

“The frustrating thing is not knowing why it’s there,” deGrom said before the Mets faced the Marlins. “Hopefully it’s gone whenever they look at it again.”

DeGrom, who exited the All-Star break with forearm tightness, termed this latest discomfort “more the elbow.” He said he was playing catch last week without any issue, but after a mound session felt something in his elbow that went beyond the scope of normal soreness. A subsequent MRI exam and CT scan ruled out ligament damage and the possibility of a bone spur, according to deGrom.

He was asked if it’s concerning that doctors haven’t identified the problem.

“Concerning? I don’t like it,” deGrom said. “I want to be pitching, that is one of the most frustrating things. I feel like I was having the best year of my career and then these little bumps and setbacks and now this.

“It’s definitely frustrating, a little bit concerning, but how it feels this past week I think is a plus. I haven’t thrown, but moving it around feels fine, so we’ll see what it says when we look at it again.”

DeGrom, who has pitched to a 1.08 ERA and 0.554 WHIP in 15 starts this season, last pitched on July 7. In a best-case scenario, he would return to the Mets in early September, allowing him time to build up following the layoff.

A third Cy Young Award in four years likely won’t be a possibility for deGrom given the missed starts. DeGrom also battled various issues earlier in the season that caused him to miss and curtail starts.

“The goal is to win a World Series and to be a part of that — the personal stuff is secondary,” deGrom said. “But I do miss being out there helping our team and it stinks sitting on the sideline and not being able to compete.”

He said the Mets have the rotation pieces in place, with Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker and Tylor Megill at the forefront, to keep the team in a good position. It comes in a season the Mets have lost rotation pieces such as Joey Lucchesi and David Peterson, and still await Noah Syndergaard’s return from Tommy John surgery rehab. The Mets initially hoped Syndergaard would return by mid-June, but a setback pushed that timetable into September.

“I think these guys have done a great job and Tylor is stepping up and pitching well for us, and Cookie coming back and Stro’, Tai, they have all thrown the ball great all year, so they will be fine,” deGrom said. “They are professionals, they know how to take the mound and keep us in a ballgame and give us a chance to win.”

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

Such a resurrection will take a Michael Conforto wake-up call, along with help from others. Maybe voodoo would help, too.

On Sunday, the Mets managed only three hits in completing an underwhelming homestand with a 7-1 loss to the Reds at Citi Field. The Mets averaged just 2.73 runs during 11 games on the homestand, going 5-6.

Jeff McNeil’s sixth-inning homer accounted for the Mets’ only run on a day they were dominated by right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez and the Reds’ bullpen. A night after blasting a two-run homer in his Mets debut, Baez finished 0-for-4. Conforto continued to hear boos in an 0-for-2 performance that dropped his batting average to .196.

The Mets fell to 8-9 in the second half — a stretch in which they have maintained the 3 ½-game lead in the NL East they took to the All-Star break. They will begin a seven-game road trip through Miami and Philadelphia on Monday.

The Mets didn’t get their first hit until the fifth, when Kevin Pillar singled through the third-base hole. To that point the Mets’ only other base runner was Brandon Drury, who drew a two-out walk in the second inning.

In his previous start against the Reds on July 21, Marcus Stroman allowed only one hit over eight shutout innings, but the right-hander wasn’t nearly as sharp this time around, encountering trouble in the middle innings.

Stroman lasted 5 ²/₃ innings and allowed four earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and one walk, raising his ERA to season-high 2.80. The start was Stroman’s seventh in his last eight in which he pitched fewer than six innings.

Baez’s arm was on display in the fourth, when he fired a relay-throw dart to the plate that nailed Eugenio Suarez attempting to score from first base.

Max Schrock’s two-out homer earlier in the inning gave the Reds their first run. The blast was the first allowed by Stroman in his last four starts. Overall, he’s surrendered 11 homers in 22 starts.

Kyle Farmer’s RBI triple in the sixth gave the Reds their second run and Tyler Stephenson’s ensuing sacrifice fly put the Mets in a 3-0 hole. The rally started with Jesse Winker’s double leading off the inning.

Miguel Castro replaced Stroman with two outs in the sixth and walked the first two batters he faced — including the pitcher Guttierez on four pitches — to give the Reds a 4-0 lead.

The Reds broke open the game with three runs in the ninth against Geoff Hartlieb.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

On a day the Mets were stuck in neutral offensively, McNeil smashed an RBI double that accounted for the only run of a 1-0 victory over the Braves in Game 2 of a doubleheader.

The Mets lost 2-0 in Game 1 — their first time getting shut out in the second half after averaging 5.67 runs in their previous nine games.

The doubleheader began a stretch in which the first-place Mets play division opponents 15 times in 18 games. Their most imminent threat is the Phillies, who moved within 3 ½ games of the lead. But the Braves, who sit five games behind, still have three shots at the Mets in this series.

McNeil, who stroked a pinch-hit, go-ahead double on Sunday, saved this day from becoming a disaster by hitting a shot over Guillermo Heredia’s head in center field in the fifth inning to bring in Brandon Nimmo with the only run of the nightcap. McNeil started at second base in the nightcap after a three-game absence because of fatigue in his left leg. After his double, he departed the game for a pinch runner. McNeil’s hitting streak reached 13 games with a first-inning single.

“I kind of feel like I’m getting my swing back,” said McNeil, who slumped for much of the first half, but is 21-for-63 (.333) in July. “I’m getting some good pitches to hit and putting some good swings on it.”

In a bullpen game started by Aaron Loup, the Mets used six pitchers who combined for the shutout in the nightcap. Anthony Banda went the longest, two innings. Edwin Diaz struck out the side in the ninth for his 22nd save.

“We had a plan as far as knowing Loupy was going to start and after that it was all hands on deck,” Banda said.

In Game 1, Kyle Muller stifled the Mets over five shutout innings in which he allowed four hits and two walks with three strikeouts. The left-hander was recalled from Triple-A last week and made his fifth major league start.

The Mets entered the day with a .626 OPS against lefty starting pitchers. Against right-handed starters they had a .733 OPS.

“We have a lot of guys that can click and connect good at-bats against lefties,” manager Luis Rojas said. “I know we just got shut out, but we feel very confident. We are going to see more lefties. Max Fried is on the way to face us, [Drew] Smyly is on the way to face us, so we trust our offense against lefties.”

The Mets had their best chance against Muller in the fifth, but Pete Alonso — who had homered five times in his previous seven games — hit a chopper to third that became an inning-ending double play after Brandon Drury had delivered a pinch-hit double and Jonathan Villar walked.

Marcus Stroman’s bunt for a hit and Villar’s single in the third gave the Mets the makings of a rally, but Muller rebounded to strike out Alonso and Michael Conforto in succession.

Stroman followed the best performance of his Mets career with a solid outing. Overall, the right-hander surrendered two earned runs on eight hits over five innings with four strikeouts in slightly raising his ERA from 2.59 to 2.63.

In Cincinnati last Wednesday he threw an eight-inning shutout in which he allowed only one hit. His importance to the Mets rotation has increased with Jacob deGrom on the injured list and Taijuan Walker struggling since the All-Star break.

Dansby Swanson barely missed clearing the center-field fence leading off the fourth and was sent back to second base after umpire Jose Navas had initially signaled for a homer. Orlando Arcia’s RBI fielder’s choice gave the Braves a 2-0 lead after Stephen Vogt singled Swanson to third.

Stroman pulled a Houdini act to escape the third with only one run allowed. After Joc Pederson stroked an RBI double, Stroman struck out Ozzie Albies and intentionally walked Freddie Freeman to load the bases. The ensuing batter, Austin Riley, hit into an inning-ending double play.

The Braves’ rally had started with Heredia’s leadoff double. The pitcher Muller, after earlier signaling bunt, chopped a grounder through the third-base hole — for his first major league hit — to put runners on the corners for the Braves.

“We scored one run in two games and we won one of them, so fundamentals executed,” Rojas said.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

Summoned to pinch hit in the sixth inning after missing three straight starts with what had been described as fatigue in his left leg, McNeil fell behind with two quick strikes against former teammate Jacob Barnes. He worked the count full and stroked a two-run double that was good for the go-ahead runs in the Mets’ 5-4 victory over the Blue Jays at Citi Field.

The Mets won a second straight series and will now prepare for a five-game division clash that begins Monday with a doubleheader against the Braves.

Manager Luis Rojas gambled in the sixth and won, choosing McNeil to pinch hit for Tomas Nido with two outs and two runners on base after Pete Alonso had already stroked a game-tying homer in the inning.

Although Trevor May allowed three straight hits to begin the eighth, including an RBI single to Teoscar Hernandez that pulled the Blue Jays within 5-4, the Mets escaped with the lead. Aaron Loup recorded a critical out, retiring Cavan Biggio with the bases loaded and Edwin Diaz worked a scoreless ninth for his 21st save in 26 chances.

Alonso’s two-run homer in the sixth tied it at three. The blast was Alonso’s 11th in his last 24 games and third since Friday, when he hit two to lead a victory over the Blue Jays. Michael Conforto walked in the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Alonso hit a shot into the left-field seats. Upon returning to the dugout he hoisted the team’s new “Home run horse” as part of the celebration.

In his Mets debut, Rich Hill lasted five-plus innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout. The left-hander, who arrived in a trade with the Rays on Friday, was facing the Rays for the second time in 14 days.

Hill loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth before Seth Lugo entered and allowed a two-run single to Bo Bichette. The ensuing batter, Teoscar Herandez, hit a grounder to third base on which J.D. Davis threw to the plate instead of attempting to start a double play. The ball was dislodged from Tomas Nido’s mitt as he applied the tag, extending the Blue Jays’ lead to 3-1. But further damage was avoided as Lugo struck out Randal Grichuk and retired Alejandro Kirk and Biggio in succession.

The rally had started as Hill embarked on his third time through the batting order. George Springer was hit by a pitch and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled into the right-center gap before Marcus Semien walked to load the bases. Hill had limited the Blue Jays to one base runner in each of the previous five innings.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

Marcus Stroman (or was it Marcus Yeoman?) went above and beyond, with maybe his best performance since arriving to the team two years ago. The right-hander dominated for eight shutout innings in which he surrendered only one hit, allowing an almost complete day off for the bullpen in a 7-0 victory over the Reds at Great American Ballpark.

The Mets won two of three games in the series and finished the road trip 3-3 – a strong rebound after losing two straight to begin the second half, in Pittsburgh. Three homers on Wednesday — including a grand slam from Dominic Smith — propelled the offense. The Mets finished with 10 homers in the series.

Stroman, who had scuffled in his previous four starts, allowed only a third-inning leadoff single to Aristedes Aquino. He finished at 90 pitches, with seven strikeouts and one walk, before Jeurys Familia mopped up in the ninth.

Smith’s grand slam in the third against Jeff Hoffman gave Stroman a comfortable cushion. Hoffman, thinking he had produced a fly to left field, pointed skyward, but Smith’s ball kept carrying into the seats for the Mets’ second grand slam of the season (Francisco Lindor owns the other).

Luis Guillorme’s homer in the sixth — the Mets’ third of the game — extended their lead to 7-0. Tomas Nido doubled before Guillorme, who has received the majority of action at shortstop following Lindor’s oblique strain, cleared the right-field fence for his second homer of the season.

Jonathan Villar’s homer in the second got the Mets started. The homer was Villar’s 10th of the season, placing him in double digits among Mets players with Pete Alonso, Smith and Lindor.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

Maybe it was the fatigue from playing three straight nail-biters or just the fact they ran into a quality left-handed starter Tuesday night, but the Mets were flat and not even this launching pad known as Great American Ball Park could help them.

On a night they lost another starting pitcher — albeit a replacement — to injury, the Mets lost 4-3 to the Reds for a third defeat in five games. The Mets will look to avoid losing a second straight series, when Marcus Stroman gets the ball Wednesday.

Robert Stock, recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to give the Mets a much-needed fresh arm, was removed after only one inning because of a right hamstring injury he sustained running to first base on a grounder. Stephen Nogosek, Yennsy Diaz, Geoff Hartlieb and Aaron Loup kept the game close, but the Mets never delivered the offensive support against Wade Miley and the Reds bullpen.

A night earlier the Mets blasted a season-high seven homers and scored 15 runs. In their final two games in Pittsburgh over the weekend they scored seven and seven runs.

After scoring 11 runs the previous night without hitting a homer, the Reds went deep three times. Jonathan India homered leading off the game for the Reds, and Joey Votto and Aristides Aquino went back-to-back with blasts against Nogosek in the third, giving the Reds a 3-1 lead.

Hartlieb, who arrived from Syracuse before the game — Jose Peraza was placed on the injured list with a fractured right middle finger — surrendered a run in the seventh that gave the Reds their margin of victory. Luis Guillorme slapped an RBI double in the Mets’ ensuing at-bat, but was left stranded at second base.

If the Reds decide to sell heading to July 30, the veteran left-hander Miley could be a nice addition for a team in need of rotation help. Miley, who has pitched to a 2.72 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 17 starts this season, is signed through this season with a club option worth $10 million for 2022.

Miley lasted 6 ¹/₃ innings and allowed two runs, one of which was unearned, on seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. He was removed with two runners on base in the seventh at 104 pitches after striking out Brandon Nimmo.

The Mets pulled within 3-2 in the seventh when Brad Brach’s throw on Pete Alonso’s squib was mishandled by Joey Votto, for an error on the first baseman. Jonathan Villar raced around third and scored on the play, but the Mets missed an opportunity for further damage as Jeff McNeil hit into an inning-ending double play.

Alonso homered for the second straight game, clearing the left-field fence in the first inning for his 19th blast of the season. It was the sixth homer in July for Alonso, who entered the month with an .809 OPS for the month.

James McCann and Kevin Pillar reached on singles in the fourth to give the Mets a rally, but Villar and Nogasek struck out in succession. In the inning, Michael Conforto hit a shot to right field that Aquino caught leaping, preventing the Mets’ threat from accelerating.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

The Mets took a gut punch in one such game over the weekend, but have distributed two straight uppercuts to mitigate the damage since.

Kevin Pillar and Michael Conforto delivered the knockout with homers in the 11th inning Monday night that helped ice the Mets’ second straight victory, 15-11 over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Mets blasted seven homers, a season high.

After Jeff McNeil’s RBI single gave the Mets an 11-10 lead in the 11th inning, Pillar crushed a three-run homer against Ryan Hendrix and Conforto followed with his second blast of the game.

Anthony Banda, who was selected from Triple-A Syracuse before the game to provide the Mets with a fresh bullpen arm, secured the victory by getting four outs in the 10th and 11th innings. Trevor May recorded the final two outs for the save. The Reds had tied it 10-10 in the 10th against Banda on Tyler Naquin’s RBI single.

Edwin Diaz suffered a third straight blown save — a career first — allowing an RBI double to Jesse Winker with two outs in the ninth that tied it 9-9. Diaz walked the inning’s leadoff hitter, Kyle Farmer, on four pitches, setting up his latest meltdown. Diaz challenged Winker with first base open and two outs and watched as pinch-runner Aristes Aquino raced home from second with the tying run.

On Saturday in Pittsburgh, the right-hander drilled the first batter he faced and loaded the bases with two outs before surrendering a walk-off grand slam to Jacob Stallings.

James McCann’s second big hit in as many at-bats, an RBI single in the 10th inning, had staked the Mets to a 10-9 lead.

This victory came with bench coach Dave Jauss directing the team, as manager Luis Rojas began serving a two-game suspension for “excessive arguing” with the umpires in Sunday’s comeback victory over the Pirates. Jauss managed the final 8 ²/₃ innings after Rojas was ejected Sunday.

McCann blasted his team’s fifth homer of the night, a pinch-hit, two-run shot in the eighth against Josh Osich that gave the Mets a 9-8 lead.

A half-inning earlier, Seth Lugo was summoned with the go-ahead run on base and faltered, allowing an RBI double to Winker that gave the Reds an 8-7 lead. Lugo, who surrendered five runs in the eighth inning on Saturday in Pittsburgh, allowed two of the three batters he faced to reach base after Farmer’s one-out single against Miguel Castro.

Jerad Eickhoff, victimized by porous defense, allowed seven runs, five of which were unearned, on six hits, one walk and two hit batters over 3 ²/₃ innings. The veteran right-hander managed to keep the ball in the park after surrendering six homers in his previous two appearances combined.

Luis Guillorme’s first error of the night, on Tyler Stephenson’s grounder, pulled the Reds within 3-1 after Jonathan India’s leadoff double and Winker’s ensuing single. Joey Votto was hit by a pitch and Naquin followed with a two-run double that tied the game. Shogo Akiyama’s sacrifice fly put the Mets in a 4-3 hole to end the first inning.

It got especially ugly for the Mets in the second, when they committed three errors — two on one play by Guillorme — that allowed the Reds to take a 7-3 lead.

After Eickhoff drilled India leading off the inning, Winker hit a grounder to second that McNeil grabbed, but threw low to Guillorme covering the base. The error was charged to McNeil, on a play Guillorme likely should have completed. Stephenson followed with a grounder that Guillorme, in his haste to get the force at third, fumbled. Guillorme exacerbated matters by swiping the ball past J.D. Davis for a second error on the play, allowing India to score. Joey Voto and Naquin followed with consecutive RBI singles.

Conforto launched a two-run homer in the fourth that pulled the Mets within 7-5. Alonso later in the inning delivered an RBI single. Eickhoff, who had bunted for a single in the inning, was held at third — a questionable decision with two outs — and never scored.

Dominic Smith’s blast leading off the fifth was the Mets’ fourth of the night and tied it 7-7. The homer was Smith’s 10th of the season, joining him with Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor as Mets players in double digits.

The Mets jumped on Vladimir Gutierrez for three fast runs. After Brandon Nimmo singled leading off the game, Alonso homered into the left-field seats. McNeil followed with a homer.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

But one of the quietest bats in the lineup had one last shot remaining in it, allowing manager Luis Rojas’ crew to save face before leaving town, long after Rojas had been tossed from the game. Michael Conforto cleared the center-field fence with a two-run homer, capping a methodical comeback and 7-6 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park.

The Mets, who lost two of three games in the series and went 3-4 against the Pirates in seven games that wrapped around the All-Star break, rallied from a six-run deficit in the first inning on the strength of a strong bullpen performance and gritty offensive attack.

Conforto’s homer against Pirates closer Richard Rodriguez was only his third of the season. He had been hitless in his previous three at-bats before connecting.

The Mets’ road doesn’t get easier: They open a three-game series Monday in Cincinnati with two openings in the rotation that must be filled. Jerad Eickhoff is likely to start one of the games, with it possible the Mets will go the bullpen route or dip into Triple-A Syracuse for the other starter.

Taijuan Walker recorded only one out Sunday and was removed after the Pirates had taken a 6-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Kevin Newman’s squib along the third-base line was swatted toward the dugout by Walker, who believed the ball was foul. Plate umpire Jeremy Riggs ruled the ball fair, and all three Pirates on base kept running and scored as Walker argued.

An irate Rojas was immediately ejected and had to be restrained from going after Riggs. It was by far the most anger Rojas has shown in his two seasons managing the team. Bench coach Dave Jauss managed the rest of the game.

Walker’s nightmare inning started with Bryan Reynolds’ RBI single after Wilmer Difo stroked a one-out double. Ben Gamel walked and John Nogowski’s two-run double put the Mets in a 3-0 hole. Newman’s dribbler along the third-base line followed.

Walker, who represented the Mets at the All-Star game last week, moved into the rotation a day early after Jacob deGrom was removed from consideration for the start because of right forearm tightness. The Mets placed deGrom on the injured list before the game, weakening an already thin rotation.

Travis Blankenhorn’s first major league homer, a three-run blast in the fourth, got the Mets back in the game, slicing their deficit to 6-4. Jonathan Villar and Tomas Nido each singled to begin the rally before Blankenhorn crushed a 91 mph fastball from JT Brubaker over the fence in right-center.

Dominic Smith’s double in the sixth allowed Jeff McNeil to score another run, on Gregory Polanco’s throwing error, that pulled the Mets within 6-5.

The Mets began their comeback in the third on Smith’s two-out RBI single. Brandon Nimmo walked to begin the rally before McNeil singled.

Drew Smith gave the Mets 2 ²/₃ innings of shutout relief behind Walker. Aaron Loup loaded the bases in the sixth with nobody out, but struck out the next three batters to keep the Mets’ deficit at 6-5. The lefty Loup pitched two scoreless innings in lowering his ERA to 1.48.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

But plate umpire Jeremy Riggs ruled that Kevin Newman’s squib was fair, and the three Pirates on base never stopped running, scoring to put the Mets in a 6-0 hole. All hell had broken loose for the Mets, and manager Luis Rojas wasn’t going to sit passively and take it.

Rojas was ejected and had to be restrained by third base coach Gary DiSarcina from going after the umpire. It was by far Rojas’ most animated display in his two seasons managing the team.

Walker recorded only one out and was removed after allowing six runs, five of which were earned, on four hits and four walks in by far his worst performance for the Mets after an All-Star first half. Drew Smith replaced Walker.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

“I’m frustrated,” deGrom said. “I don’t know what else to say.”

It’s the second IL stint of the season for deGrom, who said he felt the tightness before leaving for the All-Star break but believed the discomfort would subside. He attempted to throw a bullpen session at PNC Park upon his return from the break – in anticipation of starting Sunday – but ended the workout quickly when the tightness persisted.

DeGrom, who leads the major leagues with a 1.08 ERA, last pitched on July 7.

The right-hander has sustained various ailments this season that have forced him to skip or miss starts, but said he believes none of them are connected and says the previous injuries all occurred swinging the bat. The list of previous ailments include lat and side discomfort, flexor tendonitis and shoulder discomfort. DeGrom has undergone MRI exams throughout that have failed to show any structural damage.

DeGrom said he alerted pitching coach Jeremy Hefner before and during the All-Star break about the tightness, but thought he would feel better upon returning.

DeGrom joins a cast of Mets starting pitchers on the IL that includes Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Carrasco, David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi. Already stretched thin, the Mets will have to fill starting rotation openings on Monday and Tuesday in Cincinnati. Jerad Eickhoff is a candidate to start one of those games.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

The two-run lead Diaz had been handed wasn’t safe, just as a sizable advantage an inning earlier had become tenuous in the hands of Seth Lugo.

This one ended with Kevin Pillar diving into the left-field stands desperately trying to catch a shot off the bat of Jacob Stallings, but to no avail. Stallings’ walk-off grand slam sent the Mets to a stunning 9-7 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park.

The Mets, who led 6-0 in the eighth inning largely on the strength of a pair of two-run home runs by J.D. Davis, lost their third straight and fell to 2-4 against the last-place Pirates.

Wilmer Difo’s three-run homer off Lugo was the big blow in a five-run eighth inning for the Pirates, but Brandon Nimmo’s solo homer in the ninth still gave Diaz a two-run cushion as he took the mound in the bottom of the inning. Diaz was pitching for the first time since blowing a save against the Pirates last Sunday at Citi Field.

Ke’Bryan Hayes was hit by a pitch to begin the winning rally and Bryan Reynolds walked. After getting an out, Diaz surrendered a single to John Nogowski that loaded the bases. Gregory Polanco struck out, putting Diaz within one out of the save before Stallings ended it.

On a day when the Mets learned Francisco Lindor has a right oblique strain and won’t play again anytime soon and they scratched Jacob deGrom from his next start because of forearm tightness, Davis brought some sense of relief to the lineup with two homers.

Davis belted a two-run homer in the fourth and another in the sixth, giving rookie Tylor Megill run support in his most impressive performance since joining the Mets. The right-hander fired six shutout innings, in which he allowed six hits and struck out two, dropping his ERA to 2.63.

Travis Blankenhorn, recalled from Triple-A Syracuse before the game to take Lindor’s roster spot, drove in a run with a pinch-hit double in the seventh. Jeff McNeil contributed an RBI single in the inning.

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is the most prominent of the names linked to the Mets before the July 30 trade deadline, but the team has other needs that can be prioritized if Davis continues to hit.

Davis, who was activated from the IL on Friday, but only pinch hit that night as Jonathan Villar started at third base, entered his start Saturday with a .381/.469/.595 slash line.

His initial blast of the night came after three futile innings, in which base running and double plays were an issue. In the first, Nimmo was late retreating to first base on McNeil’s fly to center and was doubled up to end the inning. Smith grounded into a double play in the second and Pete Alonso hit into one in the third.

McNeil walked to open the fourth and Davis crushed Wil Crowe’s next pitch over the center field fence for the Mets’ first homer in 20 innings. The Mets had blasted two in the first inning in the final game before the All-Star break, but then went silent for the remainder of that game and scored their only run Friday on a ground out.

Megill escaped trouble in the third by retiring Reynolds after the Pirates had created two-out noise. Adam Frazier reached on Alonso’s fielding error and Hayes singled to right. Megill, after a visit to the mound from pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, got Reynolds to hit a changeup for a weak grounder to third that killed the threat. In the fourth, Megill allowed singles to Nogowski and Stallings, but retired Kevin Newman to keep the Pirates scoreless.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

Francisco Lindor was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain, leaving the Mets without one of their hottest hitters for the foreseeable future. Oblique strains typically have a 4-6 week recovery time.

Lindor sustained the injury on a swing in the fifth inning Friday night, on which he hit a grounder to second base and reached for his right side. He only took a few steps out of the batter’s box before turning right and heading into the first base dugout. The 28-year-old Lindor owns a .228/.326/.376 slash line with 11 homers and 36 RBIs.

The injury for Lindor came just as he had begun producing at a high level for the Mets. After a sluggish start to the season, Lindor has a .333/.489/.500 slash line in July with two homers and 10 RBIs.

After months of trying to get the key offensive players together, J.D. Davis returned from the IL on Friday, leaving the Mets whole in a sense, if only for a few hours. Jeff McNeil, Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo are other players who returned from extended IL stints in recent weeks. Lindor, who signed a $341 million contract extension in March, had been among the team’s most durable players this season, appearing in every game except one.

Travis Blankenhorn was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Lindor’s roster spot. Luis Guillorme played the final four innings at shortstop on Friday and could be an option there on at least a part-time basis.

It’s possible Lindor’s injury will push the front office to trade for a shortstop option such as Trevor Story or Javier Baez (both of whom are in their walk years for out-of-contention teams) who can be moved to third base once Lindor returns. But the Mets also signed Jonathan Villar in part last offseason because of his shortstop experience.

Villar’s playing time has largely come at third base — Davis was just activated Friday after 2 ½ months on the IL after rehabbing from a torn ligament in his left hand. Before Lindor’s injury, Rojas had suggested Villar and Davis would share playing time at third, but that plan might already be obsolete given the latest circumstances.

Lindor arrived to the Mets last winter with Carlos Carrasco in a deal that sent Amed Rosario, Andres Gimenez and two prospects to Cleveland. The veteran pitcher Carrasco still hasn’t pitched for the Mets this season after tearing his right hamstring in spring training. His first minor league rehab start occurred last Thursday.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

Francisco Lindor’s grimace on a swing in the fifth inning, which forced him from the game, was just the start. Before long, benches were emptying at PNC Park, giving the Mets an opportunity for swings resulting in solid contact. None occurred, continuing a theme for the Mets, who managed only three hits in a 4-1 loss to the Pirates.

The biggest imminent concern is Lindor, who reached for his right side after hitting a ground ball to first base, on which he remained in the batter’s box. He was replaced by Luis Guillorme at shortstop for the bottom of the fifth and will receive further evaluation Saturday. According to the Mets he departed with right-side soreness.

Then came the fireworks. After John Nogowski lined out to end the fifth, he began jawing with Mets starter Marcus Stroman, who yelled at the Pirates first baseman as he walked toward him. Catcher James McCann got between Nogowski and Stroman, while both benches and bullpens emptied. Shoving ensued, but no punches were thrown and Stroman hunched over with his hands on his knees before sprinting off the field.

Nogowski may have been reacting to Stroman pounding his glove to celebrate the final out of the inning, which left Bryan Reynolds stranded at third base.

It was the second time this season benches emptied following a Stroman exchange with a player. On June 1, Stroman retired the Diamondbacks’ Josh Rojas to end the fifth inning and the two got into a heated exchange, prompting both teams to go onto the field. Rojas later said Stroman was trying to fire up the Diamondbacks, who started a rally against Stroman the following inning.

On Friday, Stroman allowed two runs on eight hits over five innings, and he departed after 92 pitches. The right-hander wasn’t sharp, but managed to keep the Mets in the game.

Wilmer Difo greeted Stroman’s replacement, Drew Smith, with a homer leading off the sixth that extended the Pirates’ lead to 3-1. Reynolds homered against Jeurys Familia in the seventh to give the Pirates their final run.

The Pirates are anchored to the NL Central basement, but have been a nuisance to the Mets, who have lost three of the five games between the teams this season. Included was 6-5 gut-punch by the Pirates on Sunday at Citi Field, in which Edwin Diaz allowed two runs in the ninth inning.

On Friday, the Mets went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and managed just one hit after the second inning.

Stroman allowed two runs in a rocky second inning, which included a 30-minute rain delay. With the bases loaded and one out in a scoreless game, play was halted by heavy rain. When action resumed, Stroman retired Chad Kuhl, but surrendered a two-run single to Adam Frazier. Ke’Bryan Hayes followed with a single for the Pirates’ fifth hit of the inning, but Stroman struck out Reynolds to contain the damage.

The Mets broke through with a run in the fourth, ending an 11-inning scoreless streak against the Pirates. Pete Alonso drew a leadoff walk and Jeff McNeil reached on shortstop Kevin Newman’s error before Jonathan Villar, with one out, got the run home from third on a ground out.

Alonso and McNeil had reached base in succession to begin the second, but were left stranded. In the third, Stroman and Nimmo walked to begin the inning, but Kuhl got Lindor to hit into a double play before Dominic Smith struck out.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma

Kris Bryant’s name has surfaced in various reports this week, and an industry source confirmed Friday the Mets are interested in the former National League MVP, but cautioned the Cubs’ asking price has remained high and questioned whether acting general manager Zack Scott would be willing to give up enough to strike a deal.

Of course, with two weeks remaining before the deadline, it’s possible the reeling Cubs will reassess what they are willing to accept for Bryant, who can head to free agency after the season.

Dialogue between the two teams last winter regarding Bryant faded after the Cubs asked for the Mets’ top prospect, catcher Francisco Alvarez.

In recent weeks, the Mets inquired about Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suarez, according to sources, but the Reds, who were fluctuating between buy and sell mode, had pulled within four games of the NL Central lead as of Friday and appear likely to become buyers heading to the deadline.

Davis, who returned from 2 ¹/₂ months on the injured list, was asked if he was affected by the trade buzz.

“If I end up getting traded, it would be pretty sad. I have made a lot of friends over here. I love New York,” he said. “Baseball is a business, and if I get traded, I know another team wants me and that is a positive thing.”

As the Mets also search for rotation depth, right-hander Zach Davies’ name has also been raised, according to a source. Davies, a free agent after this season, has pitched to a 4.37 ERA and 1.446 WHIP in 19 starts for the Cubs.

Billy McKinney was designated for assignment to clear roster space for Davis. In 29 games for the Mets, the outfielder slashed .220/.304/.473 with five homers and 14 RBIs. The Mets acquired McKinney from the Brewers in May in desperate need of outfield hope with Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo on the injured list. Both returned in recent weeks.

“[McKinney] did everything we asked and more,” manager Luis Rojas said. “He came in and hit in the middle of the lineup, he gave us outstanding defense, always ready and always willing to do whatever we needed. He helped us during a stretch we were in need, so it led to a tough decision.”

Rojas said the Mets haven’t decided on a next step for Carlos Carrasco, who pitched two innings for High-A Brooklyn on Thursday in his first minor league rehab appearance. Carrasco could return to the Mets and stretch out with the major league club or continue in the minors.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mike Puma