Luis Severino allowed five runs in five innings and the Mets’ offense looked thin in a 6-3 loss to the Rockies on Tuesday night in Colorado.
The Mets (59-54) are now 2-3 midway through their 10-game road trip.
Here are the conclusions…
-Severino made his debut at Coors Field on Tuesday and it didn’t go as planned for the veteran right-hander.
He would keep the lowly Rockies down through the first three innings, albeit with some shoddy defense sprinkled in – more on that later – but he was able to get out of trouble and enter the fourth inning with a lead.
However, he allowed three hits, two of the extra-base variety, and the three-run inning was punctuated by a 372-foot strike. Jake Cave home run to left field. In case you were wondering, he would be in 26 parks, including Citi Field.
After a short rain delay (about nine minutes) where the tarp was not put up, Severino allowed a run in the fifth and his night was over.
Severino pitched five innings (89 pitches/65 strikes), allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one HBP. His speed was the highest he’s been all season, which is an encouraging sign after his last game.
-The Mets defense cost their team some runs early in this one. A defensive error occurred in the second. With a man first, kris bryant – playing his first game since then – hit a single into the gap, but Bader knocked it down Francisco Lindor and Severino didn’t back down, allowing the ball to go toward the Mets dugout. Marcos Vientos ran to reach the ball, but he shook it and it slid into the dugout through a hole in the net. This allowed Brendan Rodgers to score from third and Bryant to third after he passed to second on the overthrow. An error was made by Bader and Vientos on the play. One beater later, Michael Toglia hit a shot José Iglesias which connected and hit Bryant at home plate to preserve the 2-1 lead.
Poor defense resulted in the Rockies’ second run. On Wednesday, Elias Dias hit a double with two outs and Rodgers on first, Tyron Taylor played the ball well in right field, but made a mistake on the switch, which cost them any chance of getting Rodgers home.
-Despite the defense and Severino’s difficult situation, the Mets offense had a chance to tie or take the lead against the Rockies. The team finished 2-for-7 with RISP and left six men on base. The biggest chances were in the sixth with runners in the corners and one out, and the coach Carlos Mendoza called Jesse Winker came off the bench, but the lefty grounded into a double play in the bottom of the inning.
In the seventh, JD Martinez eliminated with two outs and men on second and third.
–Harrison Bader got through with runners in scoring position when he hit a two-run single in the second with two outs. He finished 1 of 3.
–Pedro Alonso was moved back to the cleanup spot after Monday’s play on the 5th hole. He finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. Lindor fought hard, going 1-for-5 with three strikeouts. Iglesias (2-4) and Brandon Nimmo (2-4, RBI) were the only Mets with more than one hit.
-One bright spot for the Mets on Tuesday was their recently acquired reliever Huascar Brazoban. After allowing the winning run in Saturday’s loss to the Angels, he pitched two perfect innings in this one.
Alex Young was one away from pitching a scoreless eighth, but Diaz hit a two-out single to put the Rockies up 6-3.
Game MVP: Jake Cave
The Rockies had a lot of traffic on Tuesday with nine hits, but it was Cave’s two-run shot that gave Colorado the lead for good at a special Coors Field.
Highlights
What is the next
The Mets continue their three-game series with the Rockies on Wednesday night. The first performance is scheduled for 8:40 pm.
Paul Blackburn (5-2, 4.11 ERA) takes control in his second start with the Mets. It will be challenged by Ryan Feltner (1-10, ERA 4.97).
