As frustrating as Sunday’s 6-5 near-loss to Atlanta was, the Mets showed their fans tonight that real losing is even worse. Despite somehow holding the Reds scoreless for the first eight innings, the Mets lost 3-0 at Great American Ballpark tonight. Part of that was because New York couldn’t score any runs of its down against Mat Latos and the Cincinnati bullpen, and part was because of Jay Bruce’s ninth inning three-run homer.
Chris Young was surprisingly effective as a fly ball pitcher pitching in a home run hitter’s park. With eight hits and four walks allowed in just 5.2 innings, Young was in trouble often, but he always got a harmless pop up when he needed one.
In the second, Bruce led off with a double, but Young got a pop up from Todd Frazier before striking out Wilson Valdez and Latos. The third inning saw Zack Cozart whack a lead-off double that led to Cincinnati putting runners on the corners with one out. However, Young wriggled out of trouble again with a couple more short fly balls.
Young used a line drive double play to erase Drew Stubbs’ lead-off single in the fifth. In the sixth, Young actually got the first two batters out, but then he gave up a pair of singles and a walk that forced Collins to pull him from the game.
Ramon Ramirez got the last out in the sixth, Bobby Parnell struggled through the seventh and Jon Rauch pitched a perfect eighth to get the Mets into the ninth inning still tied 0-0. Meanwhile, New York was having issues on offense. Matt Latos tossed seven solid innings, but the Mets had a big chance to score in the fourth.
After Ike Davis walked and Daniel Murphy singled, Jordanny Valdespin dropped down a sac bunt to give the Mets a chance to score without a hit. However, Latos struck out Andres Torres and intentionally walked Josh Thole to bring Chris Young to the plate with the bases loaded. Young raised Mets fans’ hopes for an instant with a line drive towards the middle, but Brandon Phillips dashed said hopes with a great catch to end the inning.
In the top of the ninth, the Mets put runners on the corners with two outs, but Rueben Tejada’s line drive was snagged by Stubbs, and the Mets wouldn’t get to bat again. That’s because Manny Acosta started the bottom of the ninth by walking Phillips. After Ryan Ludwick singled, Josh Edgin was brought in to pitch to the lefty Bruce, and the rest is history.
Turning Point: This game really could have gone either way until Bruce’s game-ending home run, but Acosta’s walk of the lead-off batter that inning certainly wasn’t a good omen.
Game Ball: Chris Young was ugly, but effective. You don’t score an ERA of 0.00 with a WHIP of 2.00 without at least a little bit of luck, but Young deserves a lot of credit nonetheless.
Next Game: Tomorrow night, the Mets will try to strike back against the Reds. R.A. Dickey will be on the hill against Cincinnati’s Mike Leake.
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