Mets Lose to Diamondbacks in 15

There have been some pretty long games at Citi Field this week, and Thursday’s July 4 matinee added to the list. It took 15 innings and nearly six hours for the Diamondbacks to beat the Mets and gain a split of the four-game series.

The game was scoreless in the fourth until David Wright doubled, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out.

But Dillon Gee gave up the lead in the top of the fifth. After Cody Ross walked, Gerardo Parra bunted towards second base. He bunted so hard that it got through the infield and went for an unlikely double. Wil Nieves then singled to score them both as the Diamondbacks took a 2-1 lead.

Gee helped himself in the bottom of the fifth, singling to drive in Omar Quintanilla, who had doubled, as the Mets tied the game 2-2.

Gee ended up going seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking two. He took a no decision to keep his record at 6-7, but since his ERA topped out at an unsightly 6.34 on May 25, Gee has lowered it to an almost respectable 4.45.

After LaTroy Hawkins and Bobby Parnell pitched scoreless innings, the game went into extra innings. Carlos Torres needed a baserunning blunder to escape the 10th unscathed. After allowing a one-out single to Tony Campana, Martin Prado hit a broken bat bloop that landed in front of Kirk Nieuwenhuis. But Campana froze on the play and Nieuwenhuis was able to throw him out at second on the force play, despite not fielding the ball cleanly. So instead of first and second and one out, it was two outs with a runner on first. Paul Goldschmidt grounded out to end the inning.

Nieuwenhuis led off the 10th with a single. Eric Young tried to sacrifice him to second, but he popped out to the catcher in foul territory instead. Daniel Murphy popped up to right field for the second out. David Wright followed suit with a foul pop to end the inning.

Torres threw a scoreless 11th and Marlon Byrd led off the bottom of the inning with a single. Josh Satin continued the pop brigade by popping out to second. Incredibly, Anthony Recker also popped up to the second baseman. Quintanilla made the third out, but at least he hit the ball on the ground.

Torres also threw a scoreless 12th before being lifted for a pinch hitter. With his three innings today, Torres has allowed just one run in 13.2 innings since being recalled. Young walked with two outs in the 12th and stole second. Murphy walked to bring Wright to the plate with the winning run on second. J.J. Putz was brought into the game and he got Wright to ground out to end the inning.

David Aardsma came in for the 13th, and he promptly allowed a single, double and intentional walk to load the bases with no outs. Aardsma then walked Ross on four pitches to give the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead. Josh Edgin came on and got Parra to hit a grounder to first. Satin threw home for the force out. Recker threw to first for the double play and the ball hit Parra. But he was called out for running out of the baseline. With two outs and runners on first and second, Brandon Lyon entered the game and Nieves singled to right. Eric Chavez tried to score from second but Byrd nailed him at the plate to keep it a 3-2 game.

With two outs in the 13th Recker hit a stunning solo shot to tie the game at three and keep this game going.

And it was at this point that I got going, what with July4th celebrations looming and all. The Diamondbacks scored a run in the 14, only to see the Mets tie it up again in the bottom of the inning of a Nieuwenhuis homer.

So it was on to the 15th inning, where Scott Rice allowed a run. The Mets had no more magic left in the bottom of the inning and lost 5-4.