Mets Lose Game 1 Against Giants

It is no secret that if there is anything that can ruin the Mets season, it is their lack of depth, especially in the starting rotation. Well, that was on full display in the Mets 6-1 loss in Game 1 of Monday’s doubleheader against the Giants.

Miguel Batista got the spot-start — he is the man who would likely be called upon if any of the starters go down. The 41-year-old lasted just 3.2 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks. He allowed two home runs — a solo shot by Buster Posey in the first and Nate Schierholtz’s three-run job in the third (left). Only three of the runs were earned, and Batista should thanks the official scorer for that; he gave Ike Davis an error on a ground ball that shouldn’t have been called an error.

Offensively, the Mets could do very little against an oddly ineffective Tim Lincecum. Lincecum struck out eight Mets in five innings, but he also walked five batters.

The Mets had a golden opportunity in the fifth — Kirk Nieuwenhuis led off the inning with a walk and Daniel Murphy followed with a single. David Wright lined out to left and Ike Davis hit a ball up the middle that second baseman Emmanuel Buriss was able to track down. He flipped the ball with his glove to shortstop Brandon Crawford, who had to reach high to grab the toss. He then fired to first to double Davis. With a little luck Wright and Davis would both have had hits and the Mets would have had a nice rally on their hands.

One bright spot — Jeremy Hefner made his major league debut, tossing three scoreless innings in relief. Perhaps he will give the Mets the depth they need in the rotation. Hefner also saved the bullpen for Game 2; had he not been able to go so long, they would have been short-handed for the nightcap.