Mets Game 122: Loss To Padres

Padres 4 Mets 3

Can’t blame Matt Harvey for this one.

Mets Game Notes

Harvey pitched fairly well. Not exactly the dominant Matt Harvey we’re used to — especially against a AAA lineup like San Diego’s, and especially on a lazy Sunday afternoon. He was hitting all four quadrants of the strike zone — as per usual — but with slightly less precision than he had in the first half of the year. For example, his fastball would be letters-high when it needed to be shoulder-high, or his change-up would be middle-out instead of painting the black. But still, he was as effective as he needed to be, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, walking none, striking out 6, in 6 innings.

Liked seeing great fundies and a great bunt laid down by Harvey.

The game came down to the bullpen — one that is without closer Bobby Parnell and never had a backup plan. The turning point of the game was Chase Headley‘s tremendous at-bat in the eighth against Gonzalez Germen that resulted in a double. Even if Will Venable didn’t hit that leadoff, walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth, my bet is that the Mets would have lost the battle of the bullpens in extras. So don’t get too upset with Pedro Feliciano — the quick gopher ball may have put all of us out of the agony of watching several frames of offensive ineptitude on both sides before putting us out of our collective misery.

Another extra-base hit for Andrew Brown, who came in as a pinch-hitter and hit a double. Despite the fact lefthander Eric Stults started the game for San Diego, there was no room for Brown in the lineup. Why, again, is he buried at the end of the bench?

Next Mets Game

The Mets move up to Minnesota to play a make-up game starting at 2:10 PM. Dillon Gee faces Kyle Gibson.