SAN DIEGO– Was this Mets-Padres or Jets-Chargers? The Mets gave up 18 runs in last night’s loss, the most they have allowed in a game since 2004.
It may not seem right, but the Mets actually had a 1-0 lead in their 18-6 defeat, but what a disaster. The Mets thought they had a pretty good chance of winning this game, sending Hisanori Takahashi to the mound, who hadn’t allowed a run as a starter in his first two starts this season.
Takahashi gave up a shocking grand slam to Jerry Hairston in the second when it seemed he was getting out of trouble.
Takahashi gave up three straight hits to start the inning but then got two big outs against the eight and nine hitters. Hairston proceeded to hit a grand slam to deep left field where the old warerhouse is at PETCO Park, to give the Padres a 4-1 lead.
If you thought that was enough for a light-hitting Padres team, take another 14 runs—that’s without playing a ninth inning at home.
Takahashi gave up another two in the third, as the Padres extended their lead to 6-1, but the Mets would fight back a little bit.
In the fifth, the Mets would score three, to cut the deficit to 6-4, powered by a Jose Reyes two-run triple as he remains red-hot at the plate.
That wouldn’t mean too much for the Mets unfortunately, as their bullpen was horrendous, giving back four runs to the Padres in the fifth, making it 10-4.
Rod Barajas would hit a two-run home run in the sixth, as the Mets continued to fight back, only trailing at that point 10-6, but that’s as close as they would get. They were outscored 8-0 for the rest of the game.
The eight would come as follows: six runs in the sixth, and one each in the seventh and eighth innings. As for the Mets pitching, terrible is the nicest word to use. The Mets bullpen gave up 12 runs, including a shockingly bad outing out from Raul Valdes.
Valdes came in when the Mets were fighting back and gave up two consecutive bases loaded walks in the fifth.
Ryota Igarashi, who has been awful since his return from the Disabled List, gave up six runs (five earned) on four hits with two walks, and was the main culprit for why the Mets got blown out 18-6.
The positives, if any, were that the Mets offense kept fighting back until it got out of hand, and they just frankly gave up. The negatives? Well, you can figure that one out for yourself. Pitching, pitching, pitching.
So, you can obviously chalk this one up as one of those losses. They happen, but the Mets have to make sure it doesn’t happen again, at least not to the tune of 18 runs allowed.
They do have a glimmer of hope though to perhaps win this series, only because they’re sending their two top pitchers to the mound tomorrow, and Wednesday.
Tomorrow, it’ll be Mike Pelfrey for the Mets, trying to improve upon his 7-1 record. Wade LeBlanc will take the ball for San Diego.
Series probable pitchers:
June 1
New York: Mike Pelfrey (2010: 7-1, 2.54 ERA) vs. San Diego: Wade LeBlanc (2010: 2-3, 3.71 ERA)
June 2
New York: Johan Santana (2010: 4-2, 3.03 ERA) vs. San Diego: Clayton Richard (2010: 4-3, 3.00 ERA)
Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
June 1-2 @ San Diego Padres
June 4-6 vs. Florida Marlins
San Diego Padres:
June 1-2 vs. New York Mets
June 4-7 @ Philadelphia Phillies
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com