Game Recap: Four Padres Pitchers Combine On Two-Hit 5-0 Whitewashing Over Mets

Saturday afternoon the Mets and San Diego Padres played the middle game of their weekend series.  Making his 14th start of the season, Zack Wheeler climbed the hill at Citi Field and was opposed by San Diego’s Jesse Hahn.

Mets Starting Lineup:

1) Ruben Tejada-SS; 2) Daniel Murphy-2B; 3) David Wright-3B; 4) Bobby Abreu-RF; 5) Lucas Duda-1B; 6) Chris Young-LF; 7) Taylor Teagarden-C; 8) Matt den Dekker-CF; 9) Zack Wheeler-SP

Game Recap:

Zack Wheeler‘s opening pitch to lead-off batter Will Venable was a fastball for strike one.  After retiring the first two batters of the game, Wheeler surrendered a two out single to Seth Smith and walked Chase Headley.  Yonder Alonso followed with a double to deep center field plating Smith.  Chase Headley advanced to third base, then scored on a wild pitch from Wheeler.

Jun 14, 2014; New York, NY, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman

(7) hits a home run to right during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

After Wheeler retired the side in order in the 2nd, San Diego picked up another run in the 3rd.  Everth Cabrera reached on a one out single, and promptly stole second.  Chase Headley then hit a one out single to score Cabrera for San Diego’s third run.

In the top of the 4th inning, opposing pitcher Jesse Hahn helped his own cause when he singled with two outs to deliver Cameron Maybin from second base, making it a 4-0 game.

The Mets loaded the bases against Hahn in the bottom of the 4th, but with two outs Matt den Dekker struck out swinging to end the threat.

Ruben Tejada‘s infield hit to lead-off the game was the only Mets hit off starter Jesse Hahn through the first 4 innings.

Through 5 innings pitched, Zack threw 100 pitches, with only 59% going for strikes.  He allowed 4 earned runs on 6 hits and 3 walks, while fanning 4 batters.

Dana Eveland entered the game in the 6th inning in relief of Zack Wheeler.

After 6 full innings of play, Jesse Hahn was still working on a one-hit shutout.  He was up to a manageable 87 pitches, with 54 (62%) going for strikes.

Dale Thayer entered the game in the bottom of the 7th in relief of Jesse Hahn.

Gonzalez Germen entered the game in the 8th in relief of Eveland, and quickly surrendered a lead-off home run to Chase Headley.  Germen then walked Yonder Alonso and allowed a broken bat single to Yasmani Grandal.  With two outs, pinch hitter Chris Denorfia drew another walk to load the bases for Will Venable, who then lined to Murphy for an inning ending 4-3 put-out.

San Diego reliever Joaquin Benoit entered the game in the bottom of the 8th.

Germen stayed in to pitch the 9th, and was bailed out a jam when Lucas Duda initiated yet another 3-6-1 double play to end the inning.

The Padres Huston Street closed out the game in the bottom of the 9th.

The Mets record is now 30-38 for the season.

Scoring Summary:

• Top 1st inning – A two out single by Seth Smith was followed by a walk to Chase Headley.  Yonder Alonso‘s double scored Smith, and moved Headley to third.  Headley then scored on Zack Wheeler‘s wild pitch, giving San Diego a 2-0 lead.

• Top 3rd inning – Everth Cabrera reached on a one out single, and stole second.  Chase Headley’s single scored Cabrera for a 3-0 Padres lead.

• Top 4th inning –  With one out, Cameron Maybin reached on a fielder’s choice.  Pitcher Jesse Hahn later plated Maybin with a two out single for a 4-0 Padres lead.

• Top 8th inning – Chase Headley hit a lead-off home run off Gonzalez Germen to give San Diego a 5-0 lead.

• Final Score: Padres 5; Mets 0

Highlights:

• Zack Wheeler‘s struggles continue.  His record fell to 2-7 while his ERA rose to a 4.38 mark.  He entered the game with a lofty 1.397 WHiP, which likewise grew to a 1.42 mark.  This was the fifth time in 14 starts Wheeler failed to pitch beyond the 5th inning.  He only lasted 3.2 innings in his previous start on June 8th in San Francisco.

• Dana Eveland pitched two fine innings in relief; can’t say the same of Gonzalez Germen‘s two inning performance.

• Lucas Duda continues turning double plays at first base; see Friday’s game.  This afternoon he turned a nifty looking 3-3-6 double play in the 5th, then started a 3-6-1 double play in the 9th.

• The Mets avoided disaster with a poorly executed, yet successful 6-2-5-1-6 rundown play in the 6th inning.

• E5 – David Wright had a ball go through his legs in the 7th inning – you know, the little league mistake where he failed to stay down on the ball.

• Chris Young is now 0 for 8 in the series.  Four strikeouts on Saturday earned him the Golden Sombrero.  His batting average dipped below the Mendoza Line to a .196 mark.

• Until the 9th, the Mets were limited to one hit and 4 walks, and struck  out 10 times.  If you care to take this a step further, the Mets were no-hit after Ruben Tejada led-off the game with an infield hit to short.  With one out in the 9th, Lucas Duda finally dropped a flair into left field for only the Mets second hit.  They also struck out 3 more times to make it 13 for the game.  I suppose this is all Lamar Johnson‘s fault?

• Jesse Hahn earned his first major league victory (in only his 2nd MLB start) with his father in attendance.  Congratulations on behalf of Rising Apple!

Next:

6/15 Sunday, 1:10pm – Padres @ METS

Ian Kennedy (5-7) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-0)