This is what it has come to for the New York Mets.
A season that started with such promise reached its lowest point of the season thus far on Wednesday as the Mets were trounced by the Marlins, 13-0 at Citi Field.
Mets starter Chris Young was burned by the long ball and surrendered three bombs to the Marlins, including two by All-Star Giancarlo Stanton. The Mets bullpen fared no better, allowing six more runs over 4.2 innings in Young’s stead. In all, Miami tallied 13 runs on 13 hits and five walks. All but one of the Marlins’ top eight got a hit.
While Miami took batting practice against Young, the Mets had plenty of chances against Marlins starter Nathan Eovaldi but failed to produce anything in them. Eovaldi went five-plus innings, allowed four runs and walked six, but escaped from all six of his jams unscathed.
Young wasn’t so lucky.
The tall righthander’s trouble began in the first, when he surrendered three runs after retiring the first two hitters. Old friend Jose Reyes launched the opening salvo, a solo homer into the Pepsi Porch that put the Marlins up by one. After walking Carlos Lee, Young then gave up another homer — Stanton deposited the first pitch he saw onto the Party City Deck — to make it 3-0 Marlins.
The Mets threatened to score in the second inning when Daniel Murphy and Jordany Valdespin drew back-to-back walks to lead it off. But the bottom of the order wasted the opportunity. Andres Torres failed to advance the runners by popping up for the first out. Josh Thole then hit a soft grounder that served to advance the runners, but only to put them in scoring position for Young, who struck out ending the inning.
Missed opportunities were a theme for the Mets on the evening as they left eight on base over the first five innings, including at least one each inning. Those missed chances came back to bite them when the Marlins erupted for four more runs in the fifth.
Miami’s rally started with a double by Justin Ruggiano and Young exasperated it by walking Jose Reyes. Ruggiano and Reyes then took advantage of Young’s slow delivery to execute a double steal and Lee drove them both in with a single. Stanton followed by launching his second homer of the night and the rout was on.
Young’s comeback from shoulder surgery has lasted longer than many thought it would, but the results for the Mets have been less than stellar. He lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out four in the losing effort. The loss was Young’s sixth this season in 12 starts for the Mets. In 68.1 innings this season, Young has allowed 37 runs to compile a 4.87 ERA, a result far below what the Mets expected even out of an injury prone pitcher coming off surgery.
New York had one more chance to break through against the Marlins in the sixth when Eovaldi put the first two on. Valdespin led it off with a double and Eovaldi then issued his sixth walk of the game, to Andres Torres. But Ozzie Guillen pulled Eovaldi before the Mets could put a dent in the lead. Ryan Webb came in to get three outs from two hitters, inducing Josh Thole to hit into a double play and then getting Jason Bay to ground out with Valdespin on third to end the inning. Webb and Chris Hatcher combined to get the final 12 outs with just one hit allowed — a David Wright bloop single.
The Marlins tacked on four more in the eighth on four hits off Mets newcomer Garrett Olson, including a three-run “triple” by Scott Peterson that was woefully misplayed by Torres in center. Frank Francisco came on to get some work in the ninth, but surrendered a three-run bomb to Greg Dobbs to cap the blowout.
Game Ball: Ruben Tejada reached base three times, including a pair of walks. Tejada’s average is now .321 – just four points lower than David Wright – and his on-base percentage is up to .369.
Turning Point: Miami’s three-run first set the tone for a terrible night in Metsville.
Random Stache Moment: When Tejada singled to lead off the Mets’ half of the third, broadcaster Gary Cohen, perhaps confused by the crew’s placement in the Pepsi Porch a 180 degree reversal from their usual perch in the broadcast booth, said “hit hard into right…left…center.” At least you’ve got all your bases covered, Gare.
Next Up: The Mets and Marlins complete their three-game set at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon with a battle of aces. R.A. Dickey (14-3, 2.82 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 156 K) takes the hill for New York looking to put an end to the three-game losing skid. Dickey will be opposed by Miami righthander Josh Johnson (7-7, 3.85 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 118 K). First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. and the game can be seen on SNY or heard, as always, on WFAN 660 AM.
