Mets Game 95: Loss to Dodgers

Dodgers 8 Mets 3

The Mets fall below .500 for the first time all year.

Mets Game Notes

What is there to say? The Mets were behind all afternoon, fought back to tie in the bottom of the ninth, then Ramon Ramirez shat the bed in the 12th as LA trounced him for five unanswered runs.

Jonathon Niese did a good job, allowing three runs on eight hits in seven innings, walking none and striking out three. He had a decent curveball — not exactly the sharp-breaking, overhand 12-6 spinner that makes him unique, but not bad, either — and he had good command of the fastball. As usual, though, his arm angle was low and his fingers often on the side of the ball at release, particularly on the cutter, which was more like a flat nickel-curve. One of those ugly “cutters” — and I use the term loosely — was deposited beyond the outfield fence for a two-run homer by Juan Rivera (whose cousin Mariano throws a real cutter). I’m never going to like Niese as a low three-quarter / sidearm pitcher; I believe his true ceiling can only come with a high three-quarter / overhand delivery. And I’ll keep harping on this point every time he pitches.

Daniel Murphy had four hits, though one was a foul ball that was called fair in the fourth. Hey, he’ll take it. Murphy eventually came around to score the Mets first run. Ironically, in the seventh, Ike Davis struck out swinging — even Ike knew it, as he took a step toward the dugout. It would have been out number three, but instead, Davis stayed at the plate and ripped a double on the next pitch. Moments later, Murphy hit a blooper into short left to score Davis with the second run. So it could be argued that the game never should have gone into extras, as the Mets may not have scored either of those runs had the umpires made the correct calls. But, being human is part of the game (thank goodness). I point these two plays out in case anyone ever thinks, “oh, the Mets lose because they have bad luck,” or, “oh, the umpires lost that game for the Mets.”

Murphy’s luck combined with his unconsciousness resulted in making only two outs during the series — he was 9-for-11. Unfortunately that effort wasn’t enough to push the Mets to victory.

In contrast, Lucas Duda made 9 outs in 11 tries. Just sayin’.

On another positive note, Bobby Parnell threw two scoreless innings of relief. Does that mean he’s unavailable on Monday against the Nats?

Next Mets Game

The Mets stay home to host the first-place Nationals in a three game set that begins at 7:10 p.m. on Monday evening. The pitching matchup will be Chris Young against Jordan Zimmerman. As luck would have it, the Mets will get to see Washington’s top three starters — Zimmerman, Gio Gonzalez, and Stephen Strasburg.