Sunday, July 10, 2022

Walker Dominates Once Again, But It’s Not Enough As Marlins Take It In Extras

 

Taijuan Walker reacts after closing out his superb performance. @Mets.


The Mets suffered a tough loss on Sunday afternoon, 2-0 in 10 innings to the Miami Marlins, who split the four-game series.

Taijuan Walker had another excellent start for the Mets, as he went seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out seven.

As would be expected, he was matched by Miami's starter, Sandy Alcantara, who also threw seven shutout innings, as he scattered six hits and a walk, while striking out 4, in his best start in three outings against the Mets this season.

The bullpens kept the scorelees game going, as the Mets got a perfect eighth from Drew Smith pitched, and Edwin Diaz retired Miami in order in the ninth, with two strikeouts. For Miami, Anthony Bass pitched a scoreless eighth, working around a single to Francisco Lindor, and Richard Bleier had no trouble in the ninth despite J.D. Davis reaching on an error to give the Mets a runner.

In the 10th, with Tommy Hunter in for the Mets, Billy Hamilton, who for the second straight day entered as a pinch-runner for the "ghost runner" (welcome to baseball in 2022!), and he stole third base. He came in to score on a single by Jesus Sanchez for the first run of the game, and then with two outs, Sanchez scored on a single by Luke Williams to make it 2-0 Miami.

In the bottom of the tenth, with Tanner Scott in for Miami searching for redemption after committing an error to cost them Saturday's game in the 10th inning, struck out Tomas Nido and got Brandon Nimmo to fly out. Mark Canha then drew a walk to keep it alive, and Lindor worked the count to 2-0 before he swung way over three sliders that came in on him, and struck out to end the tough afternoon.

The Mets fell to 53-33, and their lead dwindled to 1 1/2 games in the National League East over the Atlanta Braves (52-35), who beat the Washington Nationals, 4-3, in 12 innings.

That lead will be tested big time as the Mets travel to Atlanta to begin a three-game series with the Braves on Monday night. It is the first time the teams have faced each other since their only meeting of the season, at Citi Field in early May, as they split a four-game series.

The pitching matchups for the series will go as follows:

Monday 7:20 p.m. first pitch - Mets - Max Scherzer (5-1, 2.26 ERA) against Braves - Max Fried (9-2, 2.52 ERA)

Tuesday 7:20 p.m. first pitch - Mets - David Peterson (5-1, 3.48 ERA) vs. Braves - Spencer Strider (4-2, 2.60 ERA)

Wednesday 12:20 p.m. first pitch - Mets - Chris Bassitt (6-6, 3.94 ERA) vs. Atlanta -  Charlie Morton (5-3, 4.21 ERA)

METS MOVES: 

Catcher James McCann was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain, which he suffered on a play at the plate in Saturday's game.

Catcher Patrick Mazeika was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

Left-handed pitcher Sam Clay was claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies, and was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

Right-handed pitcher Jake Reed was designated for assignment.


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