5/26 Game Recap: Valverde Blows it for deGrom, LOBs Keep Piling up as Mets Lose 5-3 to Pirates

The New York Mets lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates by a score of 5-3 this Memorial Day.

Though the game stayed scoreless till the 5th, both teams had plenty of opportunities to get across at least a run. Jacob DeGrom got out of the 1st inning with a Russell Martin double play, and the Mets failed to get Juan Lagares home with none out in the 1st after he led off with a bunt single, reaching 2nd on an error by Pedro Alvarez. The Mets grounded into 2 double plays today.

May 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher

(48) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

In Ike Davis‘s first game back as a Pirate, he and Lucas Duda exchanged star-defensive plays against each other. Ike laced one down to Duda, who was able to get a glove on it and keep it in front of him, tossing to deGrom for the last out of the top of the 5th. Davis then took a hit away from Duda on a diving stop in the bottom of the 6th. Ike went 0-2 with a walk.

In the bottom of the 5th, however, after getting his 3rd Major League hit in the 3rd, Jacob deGrom hit the 1st pitch hard for a single to center, this time with 2 out and no one on. Lagares then drew a walk, and the Mets were in desperate need of Daniel Murphy to come through with that RISP hit. He did so, hitting it to right fielder Josh Harrison. Harrison threw it to 3rd hoping to get Lagares, but the ball got away, and Juan broke for the plate. Alvarez got to the ball fast, threw it to Russell Martin for a bang-bang play. Juan, sliding head first, was called out, but Martin had his foot out to block the plate as he was receiving the throw. Terry requested that the umps review it on that basis, and they did so, overturning the play to give the Mets a 2-0 lead and continuing the inning as well (which would end with the next batter, David Wright, flying out to left.)

deGrom was sent out for the top of the 7th, and got the 1st out with Jordy Mercer grounding out to Wright. Travis Snider then pinch-hit for the Pittsburgh pitcher Brandon Cumpton, and drew a walk. deGrom then struck out Harrison swinging, but unfortunately walked Neil Walker. At 122 pitches and Andrew McCutchen on his way up, that was the day for Jacob deGrom, Terry calling on Jeurys Familia to get out of the jam. He did so, striking out McCutchen looking at a slider.

Terry brought Scott Rice in at the top of the 8th with Davis leading off, but Clint Hurdle countered with Gaby Sanchez. On a sinker, Sanchez lofted it into the original dimensions in left, giving the Pirates their 1st run of the game. Scott got Russell Martin to fly to center and help from Daniel Murphy to get Alvarez out at 1st on a fantastic backhand play up the middle. Terry then called on Jose Valverde for the 4-out save with Jenrry Mejia unavailable after pitching in both games of the doubleheader. On his 1st pitch, however, Starling Marte doubled just beyond the reach of David Wright’s backhand. Jose Tabata pinch-hit for Jordy Mercer, who hit in in front of Bobby Abreu in right to tie the game at 2, erasing the possibility of Jacob deGrom picking up his 1st Big League win. He got Clint Barmes to fly out to right, but the damage was done.

Valverde stayed in the game in the 9th, and Neil Walker singled with 1 out. He couldn’t throw strikes to McCutchen and walked the MVP. That induced Dan Warthen to kill time as the bullpen scrambled. With Gaby Sanchez still in the game, Valverde gave up a single past the diving Wilmer Flores and into left field. Curtis Granderson came through with the throw, but it skipped away from catcher Juan Centeno, allowing McCutchen to score and giving Grandy an error. That was it was Valverde, as Terry got the ball and gave it to Carlos Torres. Russell Martin then hit the 9th pitch from Torres over a shallow-playing Juan Lagares for a double to get the 5th run in.

On the 1st pitch of the bottom of the 9th, Lucas Duda dumped a home run into the bullpen off Mark Melancon, who hadn’t given up a home run in 86 innings. Unfortunately, they couldn’t do anything after that and lost the game by a final of 5-3.

Up Next:

The Mets and the Pirates continue their series tomorrow night at 7:10PM. RHP Edison Volquez (2-4, 4.37 ERA) faces LHP Jon Niese (3-3, 2.70 ERA).