3/14 Game Recap: Mets Trounced by Tigers 9-1

In this afternoon’s tilt, the Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning without the benefit of a hit, as Dillon Gee channeled his inner Rick Vaughn.  After loading the bases by walking two and hitting another, Gee allowed the first run to score on a bases loaded walk.  He followed that up by drilling Avisail Garcia (after getting ahead 0-2 in the count) to force in another run.  The Tigers touched up Gee for four more runs in the second to stretch their advantage to 6-0.  The damage came courtesy of a two run single off the bat of Miguel Cabrera, and a two run homer from Matt Tuiasosopothat was crushed to left field.

March 8, 2013; Lakeland, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Dillon Gee (35) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets got on the board in the second, when Anthony Recker delivered an RBI single to make it 6-1.  In the fourth, the Tigers piled on Mets reliever Josh Edgin, scoring three runs (two earned) on four hits to extend their lead to 9-1 and close out the scoring.

Highlights:

• Dillon Gee got the start for the Mets and struggled badly with his control, walking three Tigers, drilling two more, and tossing a wild pitch in the first inning.  Gee gave up four more runs in the second, and remained uncharacteristically wild, as he walked another and threw two more wild pitches.  Gee departed after the second, having allowed six runs.  It’s the worst I’ve ever seen him control wise.

• Jordany Valdespin led off the bottom of the first with a drag bunt single, and went 1 for 3 overall.  He was a little overaggressive in left field.  He’s learning on the fly, so that’s to be expected.

• LaTroy Hawkins relieved Gee in the third, and worked around a single to hold the Tigers scoreless.  His fastball topped out at 91 MPH.

• Josh Edgin was tattooed in the fourth, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits.  He came back out for the fifth, faced two lefties, and retired them both (one via strikeout) to end his day on a positive note.

• Sidearmer Greg Burke came in to face Miguel Cabrera with two outs in the fifth and retired him on a fly out to center.  Burke stayed in for the sixth and pitched a scoreless frame while striking out two.

• Matt den Dekker got another start in center field, and went 1 for 2 with a strikeout and a single.  He’s hitting .233 this spring.

• Pedro Feliciano pitched a scoreless seventh.  He gave up a hit, walked none, and struck out one.   His fastball topped out at 84 MPH.

• Robert Carson pitched a scoreless ninth.

Thoughts:

Dillon Gee‘s start today was alarming.  It wasn’t just that he couldn’t find the strike zone, it was the fact that the majority of his pitches were one or two feet off the plate.  In his two innings of work, Gee walked four, hit two, threw three wild pitches, and gave up six earned runs.  Hopefully today was just a blip on the radar, as Gee’s almost complete lack of control was totally out of character for him.

Josh Edgin had a rough fourth inning, but it was nice to see him come back out for the fifth and retire the two lefties he faced.

Greg Burke was impressive during his inning and a third of work.  If performance dictated it, he’d be a lock for the opening day roster.  As of now, though, whether Burke will head north with the club is still up in the air.

Next Up:

The Mets travel to Disney to take on the Braves tomorrow at 1:05 PM.  The game won’t be on local TV or radio, but can be followed via MLB Gameday.

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