Mets Game Recap: Bobby Parnell blows wind into Pirates’ sails; Mets fall 3-2 in 10th

The first place Mets continue their home stand against the formidable N.L. Central Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend.

Bartolo Colon started Friday evening’s series opener, and was opposed by Pittsburgh’s J.A. Happ.

Aug 14, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets manager

(10) in the dugout before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Pirates second baseman Neil Walker promptly opened the scoring with a 1-out home run in the 1st inning.  Happ, on the other hand, blanked the Mets through his first 5 innings of work.

That changed in the 6th when Yoenis Cespedes stroked a lead-off home run to left.  Two batters later, Daniel Murphy chased Happ from the game with a double.  The Mets, however, were unable to plate Murphy against reliever Jared Hughes.

The ageless Bartolo Colon continued pitching effectively through the 7th, but exited to a no-decision after 94-pitches and a job well done.

Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless 8th in relief of Colon, and Jeurys Familia did likewise in the top of the 9th.  But the Mets failed to score in the bottom of the frame, thus providing remaining fans in attendance with free baseball.

That, unfortunately, turned into a losing proposition.

The Pirates easily connected for 3 hits and a pair of runs off ineffective reliever Bobby Parnell in the top of the 10th.

Despite allowing a run, Pittsburgh closer Mark Melancon sealed the Pirates’ fourth straight victory over the Mets this season.

Mets Starting Lineup:

1) Juan Lagares-CF; 2) Curtis Granderson-RF; 3) Yoenis Cespedes-LF; 4) Juan Uribe-3B; 5) Daniel Murphy-2B; 6) Michael Cuddyer-1B; 7) Wilmer Flores-SS; 8) Anthony Recker-C; 9) Bartolo Colon-SP.

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Game Recap:

With 1-out in the top of the 1st, second baseman Neil Walker deposited Bartolo Colon‘s first offering over the right/center field wall for an early 1-0 Pirates lead.

The Mets put a pair of runners on base with 2-outs in the bottom of the 2nd, only to get stranded by Bartolo Colon.

• Through 3 innings pitched, Colon faced 11 batters, and threw 38 pitches with 28 (73%) going for strikes.  He averaged 12.6 pitches per inning, allowed one earned run on 2 hits, walked none, and fanned 4 batters.

Juan Lagares opened the bottom of the 3rd with the Mets’ fourth hit, then moved to third base on Curtis Granderson‘s double.  Yoenis Cespedes fanned against Happ for the first out.  Juan Uribe then pooped out to second base.  With 2-outs, Daniel Murphy likewise struck out ending the threat.

Bartolo Colon initiated a 1-6-3 double play to help himself out of a 2-out, first and third situation in the top of the 4th.

• J.A. Happ kept the Mets scoreless through his first 5 innings pitched.  He threw 74 pitches with 51 going for strikes.  He allowed 5 hits, walked one, and fanned 7 batters.

Michael Cuddyer started a key 3-3-6 double play in the top of the 6th.

• Through 6 innings pitched, Bartolo Colon was up to 83 pitches with 50 going for strikes.  He averaged a workable 13.8 pitches per inning, yielded just one earned run on 4 hits, walked a pair and fanned 6 batters.

Yoenis Cespedes finally got the Mets on the board with a lead-off, game tying home run in the 6th.  Then with 1-out, Daniel Murphy‘s double into the right field corner chased J.A. Happ from the game.

With 1-out in the top of the 7th, first baseman Pedro Alvarez connected on only the 5th Pirates hit off Colon.  Otherwise, Colon punctuated his sixth straight scoreless inning of work by striking out left fielder Travis Ishikawa.

The Mets failed to score in the home 7th.

• That ended Colon’s night.  He exited to a no-decision.  Colon pitched 7 innings, threw 94 pitches with 58 going for strikes.  He yielded but a run on 5 hits, walked 2, and fanned 7 batters.

Tyler Clippard entered the game in relief of Colon in the top of the 8th.  With 2-outs and a runner on first, Clippard struck out Andrew McCutchen swinging at a 3-2 change-up.  The crowd roared with approval.  Clippard expended 20 pitches.

Terry Collins elected to bring closer Jeurys Familia into a tie game in the top of the 9th.

The Pirates countered with reliever Arquimedes Caminero in the bottom half of the frame.  With 2-outs, Anthony Recker kept regulation time ticking with a base hit to center.  Pinch hitter Michael Conforto‘s fly to left/center, however, sent the game into extra innings.

Bobby Parnell entered the game in the 10th, and was promptly greeted by catcher Chris Stewart‘s line drive single to left; Starling Marte was inserted as a pinch-runner.  Pinch-hitter Francisco Cervelli then lashed a base hit beyond the outstretched Juan Uribe at third, advancing Marte to third.  With the infield in, Gregory Polanco smoked yet another line drive to center, Marte scored, Cervelli to second.

Carlos Torres relieved Bobby Parnell.  After an advancement of the runners, the Mets intentionally walked Andrew McCutchen, loading the bases.  Aramis Ramirez‘ sac-fly to right scored Cervelli from third making it a 3-1 Pirates lead.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon entered the game in the home 10th, and was greeted by Juan Lagares‘ double to the right field wall.  With Granderson at the plate, Lareres advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Curtis Granderson then flied to right scoring Lagares.  Yoenis Cespedes fanned for the second out.  Juan Uribe grounded out to end the game.

Bobby Parnell was tagged with the loss.

Scoring Summary:

• Top 1st inning – Neil Walker solo home run.

• Bottom 6th inning – Yoenis Cespedes solo home run.

• Top 10th inning – Chris Stewart singled; Starling Marte inserted as a pinch runner.  Pinch hitter Francisco Cervelli singled, Marte to third.  Gregory Polanco singled to center, Marte scored, Cervelli to second.  With 1-out and bases loaded, pinch hitter Aramis Ramirez‘ sac-fly to right scored Cevelli from third.

• Bottom 10th inning – Juan Lagares doubled, and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Curtis Granderson sac-fly to right, Lagares scored.

Final Score:

• Pirates 3; METS 2 (10-innings).

Highlights:

• The Mets were swept, and outscored by the Pirates in their previous series by a whopping 21-4 margin.  With Friday’s loss, Mets have now dropped 4 straight to Pittsburgh.  In fact, the entire N.L. Central has been an Amazin’ thorn in New York’s side.  The Mets are now 9-18 against the Central this season, and most notably 0-10 against the Cubs and Bucs.

• The Pirates also snapped the Mets 4-game winning streak.  New York is now 63-53 for the season, and 10-3 in August.  They dropped to 42-19 at home.  Washington is presently playing in San Francisco.

• Bartolo Colon entered the game leading the league with a 0.9 BB9 average; he walked a pair on Friday.  He made a lone mistake to Neil Walker very early in the 1st, but otherwise hurled in a gem.  His record remains at 10-11, while posting only his second no-decision of the season.  He lowered his ERA from 4.76 to a 4.58 mark.

• Yoenis Cespedes, 3 for 5, connected on his 20th home run of the season.  He is now batting .304 (17 for 56), and slugging .500, with 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 8 RBI since his acquisition.

• With his 214th career double as a New York Met, Daniel Murphy tied Howard Johnson for 4th place on the club’s all-time list.

• Lucas Duda missed his fourth straight game with what the Mets termed a lumbar strain.

• The Mets have been averaging 30,000 fans (rounded off) this season.  Friday’s attendance was posted as 38, 495.

Next:

8/15 – Saturday, 7:10pm

Pirates @ METS

Charlie Morton vs. Jon Niese