The New York Mets had a chance win this one off a strong start by Christian Scott, but instead they took a tough loss.
The New York Mets lost a golden opportunity to keep their three-game winning streak intact today as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead early but couldn’t hold it, with reliever Craig Kimbrel giving up a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the eighth to give the Colorado Rockies a 6-2 win.
The Mets broke out early in this one top in the second inning with a pair of run to take a quick 2-0 lead. Andy Ibanez plated the first run with a sacrifice fly, and a single from Tyrone Taylor got the second run as he drove home Marcus Semien after Semien walked. The Mets had an opportunity to get more when Juan Soto tripled, but a Mark Vientos double-play grounder stranded Soto at third.
Mets starter Christian Scott was the bright spot for New York. He pitched three strong shutout innings, but the Rockies nicked him for a run in the fourth as Willi Castro hit an RBI single to score Tyler Freeman after Freeman dropped a perfect bunt single on third baseman Bo Bichette and Colorado advanced him to third.
That cut the lead in half, and Scott started fading in the fifth. He was replaced by Huascar Brazoban as he wound up pitching 4-2/3 and giving up just one run. Colorado starter Carlos Quintana was nearly as good, as he went 5-2/3 innings and gave up two runs on just five hits.
The Rockies scratched out a run off Brazoban to tie the game in the sixth, as he walked a pair of hitters and Jake McCarthy hit what became a hustle double into shallow center. That tied the score at 2-2, and it stayed that way until the top of the eighth.
The goat in this one was Craig Kimbrel, who fell apart when he was thrown into the breach with the Mets working with a short bullpen. A pair of singles by TJ Rumfield and Troy Johnston put runners at the corners, and Kimbrel walked Willi Castro to load the bases with nobody out. He then gave up a grand slam to Jake McCarthy down the right field line to make it 6-2.
The Mets' lack of available challenges was also a factor, as Kimbrel almost had Castro struck out, plus the grand slam was right down the line, but the only option available was a crew chief review that failed.
This was a very winnable game, but the Mets lost this game for two reasons: (1) they didn’t hit after getting the early lead, and (2) Kimbrel is still struggling with wildness, plus he no longer has the velocity to overcome that shortcoming. Kimbrel’s ERA rose to 7.56 after the outing, and it’s fair to wonder if his roster spot will remain safe if he can’t at least conquer his wildness.
Rockies reliever Antonio Senzatela got the win for Colorado, and the Mets will head to Arizona to meet the Diamondbacks having won back-to-back series but knowing they could have done better.