Mets Still Winless, Lose 6-3 to Tigers in 11 Innings
The New York Mets (0-5) had to wait two days to resume their second series of the season due to rain. But, they were back in action on Thursday as they began a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers (5-0). Unfortunately, their quest for the first win of the season will have to wait another game as they ended up blowing a 3-0 lead and losing 6-3 to the Tigers in 11 innings. It is the first time since 2005 that the Mets have started a season 0-5.
For the second straight game, it was reliever Michael Tonkin (0-2, 4.50 ERA ) who was credited the loss. With one out in the top of the 11th, Colt Keith hit a double to left center that drove in Riley Greene to give the Tigers a 4-3 lead. Two batters later, a bloop single by Gio Urshela to center field extended the lead to 6-3. Tonkin allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out a batter on 28 pitches (21 strikes).
Photo by Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
New York’s offense had a chance to answer back in the bottom of the inning when Pete Alonso came up as the tying run against Shelby Miller (2-0, 0.00). However, he struck out swinging to end the game. As a team, the Mets were 2-for-17 on the afternoon with runners in scoring position and they left 14 on base.
The Mets got on the board first in the bottom of the third as they snapped a 19-inning scoreless streak due to a two-out rally against Casey Mize. Francisco Lindor was hit by a pitch and Pete Alonso snuck a ball through the hole between first and second for a base hit. Then, Francisco Álvarez continued his hot start to the year with a two-run double down the left-field line.
Francisco Álvarez drives in two!
pic.twitter.com/7i0lDWJL90— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) April 4, 2024
Adrian Houser got the start for Game 1 and he was able to force five groundball outs in his first Mets start. He got some help from his defense in the fourth inning when Keith lined out to Lindor, who ended up doubling up Greene at second base.
New York would add another extra run for Houser in the fifth thanks to Brett Baty. The third baseman would extend the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single to left against Joey Wentz.
Houser threw the ball well for the first five innings, but he ran into trouble in the sixth as Parker Meadows drew a leadoff walk and Spencer Torkelson singled to left. That led Carlos Mendoza to go to the bullpen and bring in Brooks Raley, who gave up a sacrifice fly to Andy Ibañez to cut the lead to 3-1.
Overall, Houser had a strong first outing in orange and blue. He went five innings, allowed one run on three hits, walked three, and struck out three on 67 pitches (42 strikes) in a no-decision.
The Mets bullpen was unable to hold onto the lead. Detroit cut the lead to 3-2 in the seventh thanks to a passed ball by Álvarez and a wild pitch from Jake Diekman (an unearned run charged to Drew Smith). One inning later, Greene made up for his earlier baserunning blunder with a solo home run against Adam Ottavino to tie the game at three.
There were some positives from the bullpen. Edwin Díaz was dominant in his third outing of the year as he struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 ninth (9 of 12 pitches for strikes). In the 10th, Jorge López kept the game tied with a 1-2-3 inning of his own, stranding Detroit’s free runner on second base.
Stat Of The Game
The Mets ended up having two stolen bases on the afternoon. Tyrone Taylor stole second in the fourth for the team’s first steal of the year. Brandon Nimmo would add a stolen base of his own in the ninth.
Player Of The Game
Álvarez did ground into a double play to end a scoring threat in the bottom of the eighth. However, the Mets catcher continues to hit as he has recorded at least one hit in four straight games. In addition, he has a double in three straight games.
Next Game
Game 2 will start at 4:20 P.M. as the Tigers and Mets wrap up their three-game series. Matt Manning will take the ball for the Tigers against José Buttó for the Mets. Butto was called up as the 27th man for the doubleheader.
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