Six starts into his MLB career, Mets right hander Jacob deGrom could hardly be considered wholly responsible for his winless record. deGrom, after all, compiled a 3.44 ERA while lasting at least 5.2 innings in each outing. The Mets’ moribund offense was at least partly to blame.
But on Monday night in front of a nationally televised audience, deGrom become undone. He failed to make it out of the fifth inning, surrendering 12 hits to a Cardinals offense eager to pounce. St. Louis torched deGrom for six runs en route to a 6-2 victory.
He allowed six consecutive Cardinals to reach base in an immensely frustrating fifth inning, with four runners coming around to score.
Matt Holliday drove in the 1000th RBI of his career in the contest, earning a brief standing ovation from the Cardinals faithful.
The Mets employed an intriguing lineup technique, hitting deGrom eighth ahead of left fielder Eric Young. Perhaps manager Terry Collins liked the idea of placing Young next to leadoff man Curtis Granderson.
But the Mets’ offense was exceedingly ineffective, generating just five hits. No player recorded more than one hit, and Lucas Duda’s double was the team’s only extra-base hit.
Mets third baseman David Wright, who is having a historically bad season, was 1-4 and elft two runners on base. Wright, a career .299 hitter, is batting just .262 this year.
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