A four-run seventh inning wasn’t enough to stop the New York Mets from losing their second consecutive game to the San Diego Padres.
The New York Mets had an opportunity to finish the first leg of their West Coast trip with a series win Thursday night. Hopes were high for Chris Flexen‘s MLB debut.
Things started off on the right note as Jay Bruce knocked in leadoff man Michael Conforto on a fielder’s choice to give the Mets an early 1-0 lead. But the San Diego Padres spoiled all the fun, as they were all over Flexen early and often.
The Padres answered right back in the bottom of the first. Manuel Margot continued to establish himself as a Mets killer with another leadoff home run on a third-pitch curveball by Flexen.
He did it again! Manuel Margot with a solo home run in the first inning. #LetsGoPadres pic.twitter.com/PeW8oLJmTr
— FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) July 28, 2017
They continued to apply pressure after Margot’s shot, but after two replay reviews ultimately ran themselves out of the inning by making two outs at home plate.
Things only got worse for Flexen in the bottom of the second. Jabari Blash leadoff with a single, Dusty Coleman was hit by a pitch and Luis Torrens walked. With the bases loaded Margot struck again, this time smacking a double to clear the bases.
Manuel Margot rockets a bases-clearing double off the wall in center! Padres take a 4-1 lead in the 2nd! #LetsGoPadres pic.twitter.com/KvcLBWEJJE
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 28, 2017
With the Padres leading 4-1 heading into the top of the third, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a fly ball to left field, which Blash took a noticeably terrible route toward and let fall for a leadoff double.
Yoenis Cespedes then hit a ground ball to short that caught Cabrera in a run down between second and third. Cabrera did what he was supposed to do by staying in the run down for an extended time allowing Cespedes to reach second.
However, Cespedes jogged halfway to first with his head down before noticing the situation. Once again, the Mets failed to capitalize after getting the leadoff man on base.
Flexen finished his major league debut by inducing an inning-ending double play in the bottom half of the inning. His final line: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K. That’s not exactly what anyone was hoping for from the upstart 23-year-old.
Tyler Pill relieved him and promptly surrendered a three run homer to Coleman in the fifth.
Put this one on ice. Dusty Coleman takes Tyler Pill deep for a three-run shot, and the Mets trail the Padres, 7-1 in the fifth.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 28, 2017
The Mets made some noise in the seventh inning, highlighted by Jay Bruce‘s 26th home run of the season, a two-run shot, but it was too little too late as they fell 7-5.
https://twitter.com/TheRenderMLB/status/890781513452736518
Next up for the Amazins will be a series in Seattle that begins Friday night. Rafael Montero (1-7, 5.19 ERA) will take the hill for the Mets, while Ariel Miranda (7-4, 4.30 ERA) will handle things for the Mariners.
First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET.
