Cookie Crumbles, Tempers Flare in Loss to Cards
Can't win 'em all...
Just like the rest of the New York (NL) starting rotation — 2.7 fWAR, 2.16 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, .177 BAA, were all best in MLB as of Wednesday morning — Carlos Carrasco has been making his presence felt for the Metropolitans.
Through his first three starts, the 35-year-old right-hander had allowed just three earned runs over 18.1 innings with 20 strikeouts and two walks. Carrasco’s changeup (37.5% whiff rate) and slider (30.0% whiff) have done a terrific job of twisting hitters up.
Deception is key for Cookie. On Wednesday, the Cardinals weren’t fooled.
St. Louis jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on a string of base hits via Tommy Edman (ruled an error on Lindor but it wasn’t really), Nolan Arenado, and Corey Dickerson.
Following Tuesday night’s drama — including three Mets being hit by pitches, Chris Bassitt’s postgame comments regarding the poor grip quality of MLB’s 2022 baseballs, and Miles Mikolas’ odd diatribe on Wednesday regarding Mets pitchers taking responsibility for their actions (huh??) — a normally mundane April ballgame had a slightly more intense feel to it.
The Mets picked up on those vibes too, apparently. Former Mets’ mainstay Steven Matz’s name appearing on the lineup card was likely inconsequential. Ya gotta imagine these guys would have come out swinging no matter who was on the bump for the Cards.
Alonso (1-for-3, HR vs. Matz in his career) and Eduardo Escobar (3-for-6, HR) both singled in the first. The Mets nearly wasted the opportunity but Luis Guillorme (starting at second) hustled out an infield hit, Tomas Nido stroked a two-run double into center field, and Brandon Nimmo doubled behind him to plate two more.
Four runs scored in the first inning sends a clear message, no? Keep up, birds. Though, you can’t expect a talented team like St. Louis to lie down all series, right? Right.
Edman and Paul Goldschmidt led off the third with a pair of hits, both moved into scoring position on O’Neill’s slow grounder to Lindor, and Arenado drove everyone home with a single into right, cutting the Mets’ lead to 4-3.
On cue, Yadier Molina led off the fourth with a double, Edmundo Sosa was hit by a pitch, and Edman doubled to right to tie the game at four. Sosa came home on a passed ball and Dickerson’s dribbler scored Edman later in the frame, and that was all for Cookie. Well, not quite yet.
Sean Reid-Foley entered and allowed a bases-clearing triple to Dylan Carlson, putting St. Louis ahead 8-4 and cementing Carrasco’s line as an eight-hit, eight-run (seven earned; 4.09 ERA), 3.2-inning one you’d like to forget.
OK, so the birds kept up. They’re a good team whose offense is finally waking up. Not a shocker. Can’t be surprised at signs of life when a team like this finds itself on the ropes.
The Mets unsuccessfully tried to play slugfest in the sixth with both Canha and Guillorme making outs on the basepaths trying for the extra base (second for Canha, third for Guillorme). Don’t mind the aggressiveness, to be honest.
Multiple-run comebacks aren’t impossible. Flipside, no one’s winning them all. Why not try to turn an apparent loss into a win while you still can? Both were close plays. Make the other team make the mistake (spoiler: they didn’t).
Reid-Foley, still on the hill, allowed a run to cross in the sixth (Arenado double to score O’Neill, his third RBI of the game; 9-4 STL), snapping the right-hander’s scoreless inning streak at 6.1 innings (three appearances since April 20; 2 IP, 2.2 IP, 1.2 IP).
Despite some very impressive advanced metrics and the ability to go more than one frame when needed, Reid-Foley will need to limit the walks (seven in eight innings) and the heart of the plate in dangerous spots if he wants to keep his locker when rosters are trimmed next week.
Francisco Lindor broke an 0-for-15 skid with his RBI double in the seventh (Nido’s second hit began that sequence), but 9-5 wasn’t gonna cut it. Neither would 10-5, which is how this one ended up.
But not without some fireworks! After J.D. Davis was hit on the foot by a pitch in the top of the eighth — the fifth Mets batter hit by a pitch this series — Mets reliever Yoan Lopez buzzed Arenado in the bottom half, and emotions finally spilled over.
Arenado jumped out of the ruckus awfully quickly for an instigator. Anyway, know what will cut it? Going 14-6 every 20 games from now until the tournament starts. One round down, eight to go.
Off-day Thursday, back home against the Phils on Friday. LFGM.
Never any paywalls. Once it leaves my head, it’s yours. Of course, if you want to help keep the lights on, it’s greatly appreciated.
Become a paid subscriber below, or if you enjoyed the story, drop a buck or two in our Venmo account (@TheAppleNYM)Â
Use promo code THEAPPLE for a 125% deposit bonus when you sign up with our new partner, BetUS!