Noah Syndergaard did not have it last night. A dominant pitcher, Thor was anything but against a fiery hot Chicago Cubs’ lineup. The normally filthy right-hand could not locate high in the zone – something he does normally – and was instead offering up very hittable pitches to immensely talented hitters.
The Mets’ offense was present, knocking Jon Lester out of the game after six ‘eh’ innings pitched and keeping the pressure on the Cubs’ bullpen throughout the game. However, it was not enough to make up for the combination of Thor and Jerry Blevins’ poor performances.
New York started off the scoring with an Austin Jackson RBI single where Amed Rosario crossed the plate for the first run of this game. I will say it until I’m blue in the face – Rosario needs to be a 35-40 stolen base guy as he advances his game. He is a key cog in the machine. Obviously, the promising shortstop needs to improve his eye but the stolen bases appear to be coming. (A rare occasion) I commend Mickey Callaway for sending Rosario more on the basepaths.
Of course, professional hitter Daniel Murphy led off the game with a hit and eventually scored on an Anthony Rizzo double. In the third, Michael Conforto then answered with one of the loudest home runs ever hit, followed by a Rosario RBI single later in the inning.
Following the theme of up-and-down, the Cubs scored three in the bottom of the frame including a 2-RBI single from none other than one of the worst hitters in MLB history, Lester himself.
In the seventh inning, Kevin Plawecki homered to tie the game at four. While I don’t like him as a player, Plawecki should be playing everyday games at catcher considering Devin Mesoraco should not be a Met next year. Whoever the general manager is next year should grab a veteran catcher, but that likely will not happen.
The full momentum shift to Chicago came in the bottom of the seventh when Blevins, who had not allowed a run in August, gave up two without recording an out.
The Mets did threaten in the ninth with bases loaded, but Jesse Chavez was able to clean up the mess made by Pedro Strop and Justin Wilson, strikimg out Rosario and Jackson to close the book on an exciting contest.
In his postgame interview, Syndergaard was noticeably disappointed in how batters have been able to get to him; the Texan allowed nine hits and three walks in six innings pitched. There is clear frustration from the should-be ace who knows he is good enough to get anyone out, but is not executing as of late. Look for some mechanical adjustments to be made and the ball to be located higher in the strike zone his next time out.
The Mets should be looking forward to the Sept. 1 roster expansion as a look to the future, but who knows how they will handle it.
FINAL
NYM – 4
CHC – 7
Photo credit: Patrick Gorsk – USA Today Sports