Game Recap: Mets Earn A Well Deserved 6-2 Loss In Sloppy Effort Against Dodgers

Friday evening, the Mets opened their final west coast series of the regular season.  Making his 24th start, Jon Niese climbed the hill in Los Angeles, and was opposed by the Dodgers’ Dan Haren.

Curtis Granderson gave his mates a very early 1-0 lead by homering on the third pitch of the game.

Aug 22, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets shortstop

(4) throws to first for an out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

In the 3rd inning however, the Dodgers converted a lead-off walk into a run to knot the game at one.  The Dodgers then pieced together a 2-1 lead in the 5th when Dan Haren helped his own cause with an RBI single.

By the 7th inning, the game evolved into one Wilmer Flores, I’m sure, would like to forget.  He mishandled numerous plays, and his throwing error in the 7th cleared the way for a 3-run inning which put the Mets behind by a 5-1 margin.

The offense continued to struggle, and the Mets ultimately fell in Los Angeles by a 6-2 score.

The Mets committed 4 errors in the field, and Jon Niese suffered his 9th loss of the season.

Mets Starting Lineup:

1) Curtis Granderson-RF; 2) Daniel Murphy-2B; 3) David Wright-3B; 4) Lucas Duda-1B; 5) Travis d’Arnaud-C; 6) Matt den Dekker-LF; 7) Juan Lagares-CF; 8) Wilmer Flores-SS; 9) Jon Niese-SP.

Game Recap:

Dan Haren’s first pitch of the ball game to Mets lead-off batter Curtis Granderson was a fastball taken high for ball one.  Granderson then pulled Haren’s third offering, a 2-0 fastball (also up in the zone) into the Mets bullpen in right field to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Jon Niese‘s first pitch of the evening to Dodgers’ lead-off batter Dee Gordon was a fastball taken for strike one.  Niese wound up expending 9 pitches on Gordon, but retired #2 batter Yasiel Puig with one pitch.  Adrian Gonzalez then looked at a fastball from Niese for strike three to end the frame.

Leading off the the top of the 2nd, Travis d’Arnaud stroked the Mets first base hit of the game.  Then with d’Arnaud running on the pitch, Matt den Dekker popped a ball up just behind shortstop in shallow left.  Third baseman Justin Turner ranged over to make the catch, and threw to first to complete a double play, as d’Arnaud could not reverse himself in time.

Jon Niese retired the Dodgers in order again in the 2nd.

Catcher A.J. Ellis drew a walk leading off the bottom of the 3rd.  Next batter, Erisbel Arruebarrena stroked the Dodgers first hit.  Dan Haren followed with a bunt attempt fielded by Niese, who threw to David Wright en route to a 1-5-4 double play.  However, Dee Gordon then slapped a single beyond Wright at third to drive in Arruebarrena from second base tying the game at one.

• Through 3 innings, Niese threw 38 pitces, with 25 (65.7%) going for strikes.  He allowed an earned run on one hit and one walk, and fanned one batter.

Niese retired the Dodgers in order in the 4th.

Justin Turner led-off the 5th with a double to the left/center gap, and advanced to third on A.J. Ellis‘ ground out to short.  Erisbel Arruebarrena then drew a walk to put runners on the corners.  Next, Dan Haren missed a bunt attempt on a suicide squeeze play, and the Mets were able to catch Justin Turner in a run down for the second out.  Arruebarrena advanced to third on the play then scored on Dan Haren‘s single just beyond Daniel Murphy‘s reach to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.  Dee Gordon followed with a single up the middle and out came coach Dan Warthen to converse with his pitcher.  Wilmer Flores then booted Yasiel Puig‘s grounder which loaded the bases with 2-outs.  But, Adrian Gonzalez grounded to Lucas Duda ending the inning.

In the bottom of the 6th, Scott Van Slyke connected on a 1-out double.  Justin Turner then singled to put runners on the corners.  A.J. Ellis bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.

• Through 6 innings, Jon Niese was on the losing side of a 2-1 game.  He was up to 79 pitches thrown with 50 (63%) going for strikes.  He allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, while fanning a pair.

With 2-outs in the 7th, Dee Gordon tripled off Jon Niese.  Yasiel Puig drew a walk to put runners on the corners.  Adrian Gonzalez then bounced to Wilmer Flores, who misfired to first base for his second error of the game.  Gordon scored on the play, and Niese was removed from the game.

Carlos Torres entered the game in relief of Jon Niese, and was greeted by Matt Kemp with a 2-RBI double that put Los Angeles ahead by a 5-1 margin.

• Jon Niese – 6.2 innings pitched, allowed 5 runs/only 2 earned on 8 hits and 3 walks, with 4 strikeouts.  He threw 102 pitches with 65 (63%) going for strikes.  His ERA dipped from 3.50 to a 3.47 mark.  His record dropped to 7-9 on the season.

In the top of the 8th, the Mets put runners on second and third with 2-outs against reliever J.P. Howell.  With the count full, Curtis Granderson looked at a very questionable strike three call on a breaking ball to end the Mets scoring opportunity.

Rafael Montero entered the game in the bottom of the frame and promptly walked Justin Turner.  Turner then stole second base and scored on A.J. Ellis‘ double.  After fanning Arruebarrena, Montero was relived by Dana Eveland.  David Wright was charged with an error on a sharply hit ball by pinch-hitter Andre Ethier.  Lucas Duda also mishandled a pop-foul.  But the Mets escaped with no further harm.

Daniel Murphy led-off the top of the 9th with a single off reliever Jamey Wright.  David Wright followed with a sharply hit ball through the second baseman to put runners on the corners.  Lucas Duda lifted a sac-fly to left which scored Murphy to make it a 6-2 game.  Travis d’Arnaud then bounced into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Scoring Summary:

Top 1st inning – Curtis Granderson homered on the third pitch of the game to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Bottom 3rd inning – Dee Gordon’s 2-out base hit to left scored Erisbel Arruebarrena from second base.

Bottom 5th inning – Dan Haren’s 2-out RBI single delivered Erisbel Arruebarrena from third to give Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

Bottom 7th inning – Dee Gordon hit a 2-out triple.  Yasiel Puig walked.  Ardian Gonzalez reached on an E-6 – Gordon scored.  Niese was relieved.  Matt Kemp‘s double off Carlos Torres scored Puig and Gonzalez to give L.A. a 5-1 lead.

Bottom 8th inning – Justin Turner drew a lead-off walk and stole second base.  He scored on A.J. Ellis’ double.  Dodgers lead 6-1.

Top 9th inning – Lead-off single by Daniel Murphy.  Wright’s single advances Murphy to third.  Lucas Duda‘s sac-fly to left scores Murphy.

FINAL SCORE –  Mets 2; DODGERS 6

Highlights:

• SNY stat – entering Friday’s action, 9 of Curtis Granderson’s 15 home runs had either tied the score or given the Mets a lead.  He led off the game with his 16th home run of the season.

• Wilmer Flores mishandled numerous plays at short.  Officially, he failed to recover on a play in the 5th which loaded the bases, and in the 7th threw an errant ball to first.  On a few other occasions, however, he managed to recover in time and assisted on outs.  Flores was not alone.  Wright was charged with an error, Travis d’Arnaud misfired to second on a stolen base by Turner, and Lucas Duda failed to glove a pop-foul in the 8th.  The Mets were charged with 4 errors which tied a season high.  They also continue to struggle executing run-down plays.

• Rafael Montero made his first ever MLB relief appearance.

• My kingdom for a hit – The Mets reverted back to their 4-hit ways again, until the 9th that is.  Daniel Murphy finally collected team hit number 5 in the final frame.  David Wright followed and was “credited” with hit number 6 on a ball that perhaps should have been scored an E-4.  The Mets had 30 at-bats, managed 6 hits, only drew one walk (none by the starting lineup), and fanned 7 times.

Next:

8/23 Saturday, 9:10pm (EST) – Mets @ DODGERS

Jacob deGrom (6-5) vs. Zack Greinke (12-8)