In the first game of the Amed Rosario era for the New York Mets, the good guys were the victims of the dreaded walk-off, as the Amazins’ fell to the Colorado Rockies, 5-4.
- New York Mets 4 (48-56)
- Colorado Rockies 5 (61-46)
- WP: Mike Dunn (3-1)
- LP: Hansel Robles (6-2)
- NL, Final, Box Score
- Coors Field, Colorado
Amed Rosario experienced both highs and lows over the course of nine innings at Coors Field on Tuesday night. A high that resulted in his first big league hit and a low that resulted in the unraveling of the Mets in the ninth inning.
The Game:
Though Steven Matz produced yet another shaky outing, the Mets offense and bullpen did enough to keep them in the ballgame.
Jay Bruce broke a tie game in the top of the eighth, blasting his 28th homer of the year.
But in the bottom half of the eighth, the Rockies made a lot of weak contact that resulted in a run to square things at four.
Charlie Blackmon made a fine catch at the wall to rob Asdrubal Cabrera of extra bases, as the Mets went down 1-2-3 in their half of the ninth.
After a leadoff walk and a misplay by Amed Rosario, the Rockies had runners on first and second with nobody out. Nolan Arenado was the next man up and delivered the final blow.
The Future Has Arrived
In his first game as a big leaguer, Amed Rosario looked smooth and gold glove-esque in the field, as he was tested early and often. SNY announcer Keith Hernandez put it, “The fundies are top notch.” Offensively, Amed recorded his first major league hit, an infield single in the eighth inning. The first of many more to come.
But, in a crucial situation in the bottom of the ninth, Rosario was unable to field a hard hit ball to his right, as he was breaking to cover second. The ball bounced off of his glove, allowing both runners to reach safely.
Rosario also showed great patience and discipline at the plate, taking tough pitches and not chasing balls out of the zone.
Yoenis Cespedes put the Mets on the board in the first inning, crushing an RBI double to left center to plate Michael Conforto. The next run in this one came off the bat of Jay Bruce, an RBI double to score Cespedes, as the Mets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead.
After cruising through five, Steven Matz surrendered a three run homer to the potential NL MVP, Nolan Arenado, and the Rockies took a 3-2 lead.
Matz allowed a hard hit double to the next batter he faced, out came Terry Collins, putting an end to the lefties evening. Josh Smoker and Erik Goeddel would combine to shut the door on the sixth inning.
Matz’s final line: 5.0 IP, 6H, 3ER, 2BB, 2K.
Speed Kills
After striking out on a passed ball, Jose Reyes made it to first base. Michael Conforto proceeded to dump a bloop single into center field, reaching base for the fourth time. Reyes went first to third.
Asdrubal Cabrera brought Reyes home on a sac-fly, thanks in part to center fielder Charlie Blackmon spiking the throw an entire two feet, and the game was tied at three.
Bruuuce
Jay Bruce broke that tie in the eight, as he hit a solo shot to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.
The fact that there was no interest in Jay is almost comical, and one would expect GM’s to take notice of Jay’s stellar season during the waiver-trade period in August.
That lead would not last long, as the Rockies strung together a couple of soft hits off of Jerry Blevins to tie the game at four.
Hansel Robles
Hansel Robles shut the door on the eighth as he recorded two king sized outs, keeping the score tied going into the ninth. But the ninth was a different story.
A leadoff walk and a defensive miscue by none other than Amed Rosario led to runners on first and second with nobody out for Nolan Arenado. Not an ideal situation.
Nolan delivered his 95th RBI in walk off fashion, on an RBI single to center field to win this one.
What’s Next
Chris Flexen takes the mound as the Mets look to bounce back against Tyler Chatwood and the Rockies tomorrow night.