Zack Wheeler Great, Offense Not in Loss
It looks like Zack Wheeler has finally turned the corner. After a mediocre beginning to the season, Wheeler threw a third straight quality start Tuesday, shutting out the Cubs into the seventh inning. He walked away with a no-decision mostly because the Mets could not capitalize on several scoring opportunities. The would eventually lose in the bottom of the ninth.
Matt den Dekker scored a Young Run (patent pending) in the first. He singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Curtis Granderson sacrifice fly as the Mets took an early 1-0 lead.
The Mets left runners on second and third in the second inning. And then in the third they blew a bases loaded, no outs situation. Daniel Murphy led off with a single. After David Wright walked, Granderson hit a hard single to right. Murphy held up for some reason and could only make it to third. But Chris Young grounded into a fielder’s choice with a force play at the plate. Lucas Duda popped out to short and Wilmer Flores hit a rocket up the middle but pitcher Jake Arrieta was able to snag it for the third out.
Zack Wheeler was pulled from the game after issuing a walk with two outs in the seventh inning. Josh Edgin came on to close out the inning.
Wheeler threw 6.2 shutout innings, allowing just two hits. He walked two and struck out seven. In 19.2 innings over his past three starts, Wheeler has allowed three earned runs on 12 hits, with 23 strikeouts and three walks. He has lowered his ERA from 4.89 to 3.89.
Edgin was back out there for the eighth. Chris Coghlan led off with a homer to center to tie the game at one and end Wheeler’s chance for a win. With one out Vic Black came in. He got the second out but Emilio Bonifacio singled and stole second. Black was able to strand him there.
Scott Rice started the ninth with the score still tied. Anthony Rizzo led off with a single. Starlin Castro hit a hard grounder to third that should have been a double play. But Wright bobbled it and could only get the out at first. Rice got the second out but Nate Schierholtz drilled a shot to right to end the game.
Mets lose 2-1.
It’s too bad the Mets can’t play the Phillies every night because they can’t seem to beat anyone else.
I’m still not sold on the idea that Wheeler has turned any corners…..his last three outings have come against three pretty awful ballclubs…..I would expect him to do well against the Arizona’s, Phillies and Cubs of the baseball world. I think I will continue my belief that this kid can’t pitch and hope that I’m wrong.
Wheeler’s the real deal, he’s just not The Real Deal. I think as he matures he will develop into a solid middle-of-the-rotation guy, but then again, remember John Smoltz?
He was a middle rotation guy in the beginning behind Maddox and Glavine and he was a basket case, He needed some kind of sports shrink to sit in the stands just so that he could maintain his confidence. The rest, as they say, is history.
The Mets continue to be the MOST frustrating team in existance. Putting it as “nicely” as possible – Chris Young sucks and Lucas Duda is the definition of mediocre. Their lineup is riddled with automatic outs….
In another post, Mark mentions that the Mets have to make some moves soon to accommodate people coming off the DL. Let’s hope they make the RIGHT moves and add players who can help, rather than just ship people out and hide them away in the minors.
If Chris Young isn’t hitting, send him down. If he doesn’t pas through waivers, let the other team take him. He is obviously NOT part of the solution, long or short term.
Duda has great power but he’s basically Adam Dunn, a DH waiting to happen.
Mets Fan 4 Life;
I’ll give you the middle of the rotation guy assessment on Wheeler but now the kid is calling out his teammates….I didn’t see them calling him out when he was getting lit up by the Yankees and Washington, did you?
I think this entire team could use a sports shrink lol đŸ™‚
Have a great day!!