ESNY has all your New York Mets news, including a rough night in Queens with a loss to the Phils, along with Jose Reyes’ prolonged issues.
Coming off a disappointing conclusion to the recent 4-3 road trip, the New York Mets returned home to kick off a nine game home stand, as they welcomed in the Philadelphia Phillies to Citi Field.Tuesday’s game got off to a rocky start, as starter Zack Wheeler surrendered a first inning solo shot to Phillies CF Odubel Herrera.
Herrera's solo homer in the 1st https://t.co/puhPLE1N7K
— francis B. pujols N. (@francis_52) April 19, 2017
New York was able to respond for two runs of their own in the home half.
Michael Conforto got things rolling with a leadoff walk. After a flyout by Asdrubal Cabrera and a Yoenies Cespedes base-on-balls, Jay Bruce drove in the tying run on sharp single to right field.
The Metropolitans were able to tack on a second run when Phillies starter Zach Eflin uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Cespedes to cross the plate with the go-ahead run.
The game remained 2-1, until the visiting half of the eighth inning. With two down, the Phillies were able to push across the tying run, backed by a walk and a gross fielding mishap by Jose Reyes.
this piece of media is called: Jose Reyes drops a pop up pic.twitter.com/6NjSocyAWM
— Bwoss (@_Bwoss_) April 19, 2017
As Reyes camped under a routine popup, he appeared to be distracted by Travis d’Arnaud‘s presence. d’Arnaud, who was apparently directing traffic, stood near the baseline in Reyes’s line of vision.
The ball then popped in and out of Reyes’s glove, eventually rolling towards the Mets’ dugout and allowing Freddy Galvis to reach first base and for Cameron Rupp to advance to third. Following the miscue manager Terry Collins brought in southpaw Jerry Blevins, who was abruptly welcomed with a game-tying double.
The egregious error was not the only issue for Reyes, as his early seasons struggles continue to mount. His struggles offensively have apparently been affecting him, even defensively and on the basepaths.
Although Reyes did manage a fourth inning double, he ended the evening going 1-for-4 with his 14th strikeout of the season, while stranding three on base. His average dropped to .100 — 5-for-50 — on the season.
"I'm going to be better than this," Jose Reyes says of his season-opening struggles. #Mets pic.twitter.com/SaLhVRIA86
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 19, 2017
The bullpen continued its early season struggles in the top of the 10th, with the culprit this time being Rafael Montero, who allowed five Phillies singles en route to four unanswered runs.
The Mets inability to generate offense was again an issue, as the team scored two or less runs for the sixth time in their 14 games.
In off-the-field news, general manager Sandy Alderson announced that three injured players will restart baseball activities tomorrow.
Both Seth Lugo and Steven Matz will begin light throwing programs on Wednesday, as they attempt their comeback from elbow issues. No set timetable for their returns have been announced.
David Wright has been given clearance to resume baseball operations, including a light throwing program.
Wright, who hasn’t thrown since early in Spring Training, was also shut down from all baseball activities two weeks ago due to returning back issues, along with a brief bout of the flu.
Robert Gsellman (0-1, 9.28 ERA) will take the mound on Wednesday evening at 7:10 p.m., as the Mets will attempt to right the ship against Phillies right hander Vince Velasquez (0-2, 9.00 ERA.)
