Mets Lose to Lowly Marlins Again

Collin McHugh got the start for the Mets against the Marlins on Saturday in place of Jonathon Niese, who is nursing pain from tendinitis in his shoulder. It was painful at times to watch McHugh, who remains winless as a Met as they dropped their second straight to the lowly Marlins.

The game did not start very well for McHugh. After getting the first out of the first inning, he walked the next two batters. He got the second out, but Chris Coughlan connected with a single to center. One run scored, but Rick Ankiel was able to throw out the runner trying to go to third for the final out.

McHugh walked another batter with two outs in the second, and opposing pitcher Jose Fernandez hit an RBI double to make it a 2-0 game.

McHugh allowed two singles and a sacrifice fly in the fourth as the Marlins extended their lead to 3-0. Jeff Mathis then tripled to make it 4-0.

Terry Collins allowed McHugh to hit with two outs in the top of the fifth, but when he allowed a hit to the leadoff batter in the bottom of the inning, Collins had seen enough and pulled him from the game.

McHugh lasted 4 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, with three walks and just one strikeout. After an 0-4 year in 2012, McHugh is now 0-1 in 2013 after his first start and two relief appearances. His ERA is 10.29.

Robert Carson and Greg Burke combined to allow four runs in the seventh to make it an 8-0 game. Details not necessary.

Meantime the Mets could not touch Fernandez. He went seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits with eight strikeouts and a walk.

This Fernandez kid can pitch. He made his major league debut against the Mets in April allowing one run in five innings, and he looked even better today. He throws a 95 mph fastball and has an incredible curveball and and a vicious slider. Oh, and he’s 20 years old!

With Fernandez gone, the Mets finally got on the board in the eighth when pinch hitter Justin Turner doubled to score Juan Lagares to make it 8-1.

Mets lose 8-1 — on the one-year anniversary of Johan Santana’s no-hitter, no less.