HARVEY FAILS TO MAINTAIN EARLY LEAD
Matt Harvey had a very positive early performance in the first inning, commanding four pitches with a 93 mph fastball through the first three innings. Despite extra-base hits by Trevor Story and DJ LeMahieu, the Mets maintained an early 2-0 lead.
However, three straight hits in the bottom of the fourth erased that lead, culminating with a Mark Reynolds single. Another Trevor Story double created a 3-2 Rockies lead, and a Tony Wolters single in the top of the sixth extended that lead to 4-2. Harvey was pulled following that run.
OFFENSE STRUGGLES AGAINST GRAY’S FASTBALL
Jon Gray struck out the side in the first inning with high 90s fastballs and tight high 80s sliders. He continued to maintain his velocity, but lost his command in the following inning. A walk to Neil Walker and an Asdrubel Cabrera hit-by-pitch in the second led to a two-run double by Kevin Plawecki.
Gray calmed down following that inning, striking out five and inducing five groundouts in his remaining five frames. The Mets would fail to score during that time.
Following Gray’s exit, Carlos Estevez would enter and work a clean eighth inning around Michael Conforto’s triple. Estevez would earn a pop-up and two strikeouts against the heart of the Mets’ order. Jake McGee would enter and make quick work of the top of the ninth, retiring Walker, Cabrera, and Plawecki in order.
ROBLES PERFECT TO NO AVAIL
Following Harvey’s exit, Jerry Blevens struggled before recording the final out of the sixth inning. He allowed Tony Wolters to score on a double by Blackmon in his first plate appearance, leading to the eventual final 5-2 score. He interestingly intentionally walked Story to face Carlos Gonzalez, but came away with a groundout.
The next inning, Hansel Robles came in and effectively attacked Rockies hitters with his slider. He retired all six of the batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings, but the game ended in Colorado’s favor before the bottom of the ninth.
UP NEXT
Tomorrow is game two of the series in Colorado, as Logan Verrett faces former top prospect Eddie Butler in a right-handed duel. The Mets look to break a two-game losing streak and potentially tie with the Nationals for the NL East lead. The game begins at 8:10 p.m.
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy – USA Today Sports