With the Mets in Colorado to face the last-place Rockies, Tuesday’s first matchup of a three-game set served as a perfect chance to begin crawling back into the playoff picture.
They entered the night 1.5 games back of the final National League Wild Card spot and unfortunately failed to gain any ground after suffering a 6-3 loss to the Rockies at Coors Field. With the Atlanta Braves also losing on Tuesday, the Mets still remain 1.5 games back of the final spot.
Rockies starter Kyle Freeland’s 5.64 ERA and his team’s overall ERA of 5.50 should’ve been welcome signs to the Amazins’, but they failed to pick up timely hits needed to secure a win.
Bader gets things going! 💪 pic.twitter.com/RR5stFigVA
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 7, 2024
The Mets did, however, get on the board first in the top of the second inning after Harrison Bader’s single scored Pete Alonso and Jose Iglesias. But a bizarre play that featured two errors allowed Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers to score, shortening the deficit to 2-1.
Brendan Rodgers is awarded home and Kris Bryant is awarded third base after a bobble from Mark Vientos fielding an errant Harrison Bader throw goes into the dugout off the netting.
There appeared to be holes in the Coors Field netting allowing the ball to drop into the dugout. pic.twitter.com/Pc7jGgYg4Q
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 7, 2024
Following an errant throw by Bader, third baseman Mark Vientos attempted to retrieve the ball in foul territory. Vientos fumbled the ball and it appeared to fall into the dugout after going through a hole in the netting.
In the fourth, catcher Elias Diaz tied the game with an RBI double then Jake Cave followed up with a two-run homer that put the Rockies up, 4-2.
Brandon Nimmo’s RBI single in the fifth cut the deficit to one right before Freeland departed the game due to a blister on his forefinger. Despite being charged for three runs, Freeland showcased good stuff through 4.2 innings. He allowed four hits, two walks and struck out seven over 73 pitches.
After a nine-minute rain delay, reliever Justin Lawrence (4-4) took the mound and struck out J.D. Martinez with a runner on second to end the inning. The Mets’ trend of leaving runners on base continued Tuesday, with seven left on base and the team going 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
The Rockies’ fifth run came on a Rodgers RBI double in the fifth. It was the last run Mets starter Luis Severino (7-5) allowed before he ending his outing by retiring Kris Bryant. The righty allowed eight hits, five runs (four earned), no walks and struck out five in as many innings.
The Amazins’ last chance to shorten the lead with a runner in scoring position came in the sixth. Down 5-3, Carlos Mendoza put in Jesse Winker to pinch-hit for Luis Torrens with Alonso on third and Iglesias on first. But Winker ended up hitting into a double play to end the frame.
Huascar Brazoban relieved Severino and pitched two scoreless frames, but lefty Alex Young allowed an insurance run in the eighth that stretched the deficit to three. Colorado’s Victor Vodnik came in the ninth to convert his sixth save of the season.
The two teams will deploy righty starters in their matchup on Wednesday night, with Paul Blackburn (4.11) taking the mound against Ryan Feltner (4.97 ERA).
Originally Published: