D.J. Carrasco Strikes Again
Explain to me again why D.J. Carrasco is anywhere near the pitchers mound during a regular season baseball game, let alone when the game is on the line? The awful seventh inning in which the Mets blew Tuesday night’s game to the Cardinals was not all his fault, but he delivered the pitch that broke the game open.
The Mets jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, determined to play the spoiler role to the hilt. But Mike Pelfrey wanted no part of that and in the bottom of the third promptly gave back the three runs the Mets scored in the top of the inning.
The Mets took a 5-3 lead in the fifth, but once again Pelfrey didn’t know what to do with the lead and allowed the Cardinals to tie the score in the bottom of the fifth. The Mets took a 6-5 lead in the seventh when Angel Pagan drew a bases loaded walk. David Wright could have done some damage but he followed with a strikeout to end the inning.
Now to the bottom of the seventh: Josh Stinson got the first two outs, but then gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases. Tim Byrdak, he of the new contract extension for 2012, came on and gave up a double that gave the Cards a 7-6 lead. An intentional walk loaded the bases, and then Terry Collins thought it was a good idea to bring in Carrasco (yeah, that’s him, left). Bad idea because he gave up a bases-clearing triple to pinch-hitting rookie Adron Chambers — doing what Wright could not do. Did I mention Chambers had all of three previous at bats in his major league career? Carrasco was allowed to pitch even more and of course he let up a single that scored Chambers. He did get the last out, but not before a 6-5 lead evaporated into an 11-6 deficit.
And that’s how it ended. As I said, the inning was not all his fault, but Carrasco is absolutely useless. Why he is still pitching in key situations is beyond me.
AND why is Mike Pelfry still on the Mets??! They’re talking about him becoming a reliever next year?? Let him go relieve for Pittsburgh or Washington. I’m tired of watching him relieve himself every time they hand him the ball…..