The 2017 New York Mets starting pitching continued their season-long trend of taking one step forward followed by two steps back on Wednesday night.
Coming out of the All-Star break the Mets have been playing at a higher level than they did in the first half, winning eight of 12 contests. They actually looked like a confident team.
That all changed Wednesday night in San Diego, as the Padres hit Steven Matz early and often. Manuel Margot opened the scoring with a mammoth two-run home run in the bottom of the first, giving the home team a 2-0 lead.
Jose Reyes would cut the Padres lead in half with a RBI single in the top of the second, scoring Jay Bruce. But San Diego roared back in the bottom of the third to pretty much put the game out of reach.
First, All-Star first baseman Wil Myers laced a RBI double to deep left field, extending the Padres lead to 3-1.
A few batters later, Luis Torrens stepped to the plate with the bases loaded…and unleashed a bases-clearing triple for a 6-1 Padres lead. The ball nearly cleared the park, bouncing off the top of the wall in right-center field.
Matz finished the inning but wouldn’t return in the bottom of the fourth. His final line: 3 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 4 K. Those are some ugly numbers.
Reyes would pick up his second RBI of the night in the top of the sixth inning, drawing a bases-loaded walk, while Wilmer Flores went yard in the top of the eighth.
But it was too little, too late for the Amazin’s. If there was a bright spot, it was the performance of the team’s bullpen. Erik Goeddel, Tyler Pill, and Hansel Robles combined for five scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out seven.
Next up on the calendar for the Metropolitans is the final game of their four-game set against the Padres. Talented right-handed pitching prospect Chris Flexen will make his major league debut, while the Padres counter with Luis Perdomo (4-5, 4.71 ERA).
First pitch is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. ET.