Game Recap: Chris Young’s 14th Inning Gaffe Ruins Brilliant Bullpen Performance; Mets Lose 6-5 In Philadelphia

With Rafael Montero on the mound, the Mets entered Friday night’s contest in Philadelphia looking to extend their three game win streak.  Former Mets farmhand A.J. Burnett started for the Phillies.

The Mets young hurler failed to pitch through the 4th inning, and was lucky to escape with a no decision as Terry Collins employed five relievers to keep the game tied 5-5 through the 9th.  The Phillies on the other hand, stuck with A.J. Burnett through three lead changes, and 7 full innings of work in which he struck out 11 Mets, walked 6, and allowed 5 earned runs.

May 29, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder

(3) hits a home run in the seventh inning of a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Mets won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With runners in scoring position in the top of the 9th, the Mets twice failed to plate the go ahead run.  In the bottom of the frame, the Mets turned an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to send the game into extra frames.

The game was headed into the bottom of the 13th tied at five when the clock struck midnight.

By 12:20am, it came time for the 14th inning stretch.

Unfortunately, 5 hours and 26 minutes of baseball in Philadelphia wound up ending ponderously for New York.

Mets Starting Lineup:

1) Juan Lagares-CF; 2) Daniel Murphy-2B; 3) David Wright-3B; 4) Curtis Granderson-LF; 5) Bobby Abreu-RF; 6) Lucas Duda-1B; 7) Travis d’Arnaud-C; 8) Ruben Tejada-SS; 9) Rafael Montero-SP

Game Recap:

In the top of the 2nd inning, the Mets made A.J. Burnett pay for issuing a pair of lead off walks to Curtis Granderson and Bobby Abreu, when Lucas Duda opened the scoring with a long double to right field plating Granderson.  Abreu later came around to score on a fielder’s choice, and Ruben Tejada singled home Duda for the Mets third run.

A.J. Burnett helped his own cause with a lead off single in the 3rd inning, and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice to make it a 3-1 game.

Philadelphia then put an early end to Rafaell Montero’s evening as Domonic Young connected on a 3-run home run in the 4th to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead.  After issuing a two out walk to Jimmy Rollins, Montero was lifted in favor of Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Bobby Abreu put the Mets back on top in the 5th inning, with a clutch, two out, two run double to right field, but the Phillies struck back to tie the game in the bottom of the frame at five.

Josh Edgin pitched a scoreless 6th inning.

In a double switch, Jeurys Familia entered the game with one out in the 7th, and pitched through the 8th.

Pinch hitting in the top of the 9th, Chris Young drew a lead off walk off reliever Mike Adams, and was sacrificed over to second base by Juan Lagares.  Daniel Murphy was then intentionally walked in favor of pitching to David Wright (with the pitcher’s spot due to follow).  Wright then popped up foul to catcher Carlos Ruiz for the second out.  Eric Campbell was sent up as a pinch hitter for Jeurys Familia, and drew another walk to load the bases.  Bobby Abreu then stepped in against Adams, looked at a pair of strikes, then swung through strike three to end the Mets threat.

Reliever Scott Rice entered the game in the bottom of the 9th inning.  After Chase Utley led off with a single,  Rice rebounded to strikeout Ryan Howard on a sinker.  Terry Collins then opted for Carlos Torres, who induced Marlon Byrd into a 6-4-3 double play.

Into extra innings they went.

Free Baseball:

Jonathan Papelbon entered the game in the top of the 10th inning.  Travis d’Arnaud greeted him with a sharp one out single.  Ruben Tejada then reached safely on a grounder to short, and a failed force play attempt at second.  But with two outs and two on, Juan Lagares fanned to end the threat.

Carlos Torres continued pitching through the 10th inning.

Antonio Bastardo entered the game for Philadelphia in the 11th, and retired the Mets in order.

Carlos Torres pitched another scoreless frame in the bottom of the 11th.

In the 12th inning, Vic Black became the 7th Mets pitcher of the night.  The Phillies connected on a pair of seeing eye base hits to put a runner in scoring position.  But with two outs, Black was able to fan Reid Brignac and end the threat.

Vic Black then pitched himself into jam in the 13th.  After issuing a pair of two out walks to Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, Ryan Howard stepped in against Black, and looked at a fast ball for strike three!

Pitcher Jacob deGrom appeared as a pinch hitter in the top of the 14th inning, while catcher Anthony Recker headed towards the bullpen to start warming up for a possible pitching appearance.

Jenrry Mejia entered the game in the bottom of the 14th inning.  Leading off, Marlon Byrd lofted a routine fly ball to right field, that Chris Young (whom did not start) inexplicably dropped.  Carlos Ruiz then followed with a base hit up the middle to put runners on the corners.  Terry Collins then opted to intentionally walk Cesar Hernandez  to load the bases.  With no outs, Reid Brignac stepped in against Mejia, and hit a deep fly to left field to win the game for Philadelphia.

Scoring Summary:

• Top 2nd inning – Lead off walks to Curtis Granderson and Bobby Abreu were followed by a double to deep right field by Lucas Duda.  Granderson scored.  Bobby Abreu scored from third base on Travis d’Arnaud‘s fielder’s choice to second base.  Ruben Tejada’s one out single scored Duda to give the Mets a 3-0 lead.

• Bottom 3rd inning – A.J. Burnett led off with single, and moved all the way to third base on a one out single by Jimmy Rollins and an error by Bobby Abreu.  Burnett then scored on Chase Utley’s fielder’s choice to second base.

• Bottom 4th inning – Marlon Byrd led off with a walk, and Carlos Ruiz followed with a single.  Domonic Brown then followed with a 3-run home run to right field, giving the Phillies a 4-3 lead.

• Top 5th inning – Leading off, Juan Lagares reached on an infield single and Daniel Murphy walked.  After David Wright and Curtis Granderson were retired, Bobby Abreu connected on a double to right to plate both base runners, and give the Mets a 5-4 lead.

• Bottom 5th inning – Marlon Byrd drew a one out walk off Matsuzaka.  Carlos Ruiz doubled.  Byrd scored on Domonic Brown‘s grounder to Ruben Tejada, tying the game at five.

• Bottom 14th inning – Chris Young dropped Marlon Byrd’s fly ball to right resulting in a 2-base error.  After a single and an intentional walk to load the bases, Reid Brignac’s fly to left field plated the winning run.

• Phillies defeat Mets 6-5

Highlights:

• Still searching for his first victory of 2014, Rafael Montero was off to the showers after just 3.2 innings pitched.  He allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks.  He fanned none while his ERA grew to a 5.40 mark.  Montero threw 80 pitches before departing, with only 45 (56%) going for strikes.  Over the first two innings, Montero faced 8 batters and allowed 2 hits.  He faced 5 more batters in the 3rd before getting knocked out in the 4th.

• The Mets committed three errors, one by Bobby Abreu, a second by Travis d’Arnaud, and of course, Chris Young’s monumental gaffe in the 14th.

• In the top of the 8th inning, Bobby Abreu successfully stole the 400th base of his career.  Terry Collins’ decision to spot start Abreu might be an unpopular one (with me anyway), but he was quite the productive player Friday night.

• Travis d’Arnaud, 2 for 6, RBI

• Through the first nine innings, the Mets left 9 runners on base.

• Sign of the times – In the 9th inning, the Phillies intentionally walked Daniel Murphy in order to face David Wright with less than two outs, and the go ahead run in scoring position.

• Prior to the fateful 14th inning, the bullpen pitched brilliantly.  By the end of the 13th inning, 6 relievers combined to pitch 9.1 innings, allowing just one earned run back in the 5th inning.  They surrendered a mere 5 hits, issued 6 walks and fanned 9 batters.  They combined on 147 pitches with 94 (63.9%) going for strikes.  Vic Black led with 38 pitches, followed by Carlos Torres’ 35 pitches.

• The Mets (25-29 .463) and Phillies (24-28 .462) are once again tied for last place, four games back of the Atlanta Braves.

Next:

5/31 Saturday, 3:05pm – Mets @ Phillies

Jacob deGrom (0-2) vs. Kyle Kendrick (1-5)