Shaun Marcum Fails Again, Mets Lose

Shaun Marcum is not good. There, I said it. Marcum’s third start for the Mets was just as poor and short as his first two, as the Pirates crushed the Mets Friday night at Citi Field.

Marcum found trouble in the second. A double and a single put runners on first and third with no outs. Pedro Alvarez singled to right to score one run to make it 1-0. But Jose Tabata, trying to going first to third, was thrown out by Marlon Byrd on a fine throw for the first out. It was crucial because Marcum couldn’t get any outs on his own. A double and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Opposing pitcher Wandy Rodriguez smacked a bullet up the middle that hit Marum on his wrist, knocking his glove off. It bounced to Justin Turner, who was able to get the out at second, but a run scored to make it 2-0. With runners at first and third and two outs Sterling Marte hit a slow grounder to short. Ruben Tejada double-clutched and the speedy Marte was safe at first to extend the Pirates lead to 3-0. Another single loaded the bases, but Marcum was able to get Andrew McCutchen to fly out to end the inning.

In the fifth Marum hit the leadoff batter and allowed a single. Garrett Jones then hit a ball to right that was just out of the reach of Mike Baxter. It also just cleared the orange line on the wall and after an umpire review, it was correctly ruled a home run — 6-0 Pirates.

Shaun Marcum was done after 4.2 inning. He allowed six runs on nine hits. On the bright side, he didn’t walk anyone, but he did hit two batters. Marcum has failed to go five innings in any of his starts. He also was the loser of that 15 inning game. He is now 0-3 with an ERA of 8.59. If Shaun Marcum were not signed for $4 million his time with the Mets would be over (see Laffey, Aaron). But the Mets will not eat that much cash.

Anthony Recker finally got the Mets on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a rocket into the seats in left. His first home run as a Met made it a 6-1 game.

Scott Rice allowed a run in the ninth and it was an important one because Jordany Valdespin hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 7-2. Ike Davis singled and Recker then walked. With two outs Andrew Brown singled to score Davis to make it 7-3 and put runners on first and second. Had Rice not given up that run, Tejada would have come to the plate as the potential tying run. Instead, he was not, and he flew out to center to end the game, anyway.

Mets go down 7-3.