By Deesha Thosar
FOX Sports MLB Writer
NEW YORK — There’s no sugarcoating it: The Mets are failing to meet the moment. Again.
Max Scherzer failed when the Mets wanted him the maximum, each final weekend in Atlanta and Friday in opposition to San Diego. The Mets offense failed to capitalize early after they had the probability in opposition to dominant right-hander Yu Darvish.
The rowdy lovers, the postseason-logo-ed box, the jazzy setting — the level was once set in Queens. But this was once no playoff-ready group.
The Mets misplaced to the Padres 7-1 in Game 1 of the Wild-Card Series on Friday at Citi Field.
Scherzer was once disappointing for a 2nd consecutive time out, and in a shocking scene, he was once booed off the mound when he was once pulled in the 5th. The veteran and long run Hall of Famer — who was once given $43 million in step with 12 months through the Mets for this very moment: to close down opposing lineups in the playoffs — coughed up seven earned runs throughout simply 4⅔ innings. All seven runs had been a made from the Padres’ clobbering 4 house runs off Scherzer.
Scherzer is now the 2nd pitcher in Major League Baseball historical past to permit 4 house runs and 7 earned runs in any postseason sport. The different was once Cincinnati Reds pitcher Gene Thompson in Game 3 of the 1939 World Series in opposition to the Yankees.
Jurickson Profar, Manny Machado, Josh Bell and Trent Grisham all took Scherzer deep in the collection opener. Bell’s two-run shot silenced the Citi Field crowd as early as the first inning, and the Mets had been trailing the Padres ahead of Darvish threw his first pitch. Trailing 2-0 would possibly were manageable for the Amazin’s, however then got here the house run Scherzer allowed to San Diego’s No. 8 hitter, who has a penchant for energy. The 94 mph fastball to Grisham was once correct down the center, and the Padres outfielder pounced on it for a solo shot to middle.
Scherzer retired his subsequent seven consecutive batters ahead of permitting two extra house runs, together with a three-run dinger to Profar, in his 5th and ultimate inning. Combined along with his final time out of the common season — when the Mets misplaced the 2nd of 3 video games in opposition to the Braves final weekend — Scherzer has authorised 11 earned runs, six house runs and 16 hits over 10⅓ innings.
When two vital video games had been in entrance of him, Scherzer pitched two of his worst outings as a member of the Mets. That’s certainly not what Mets normal supervisor Billy Eppler had in thoughts when he satisfied the group’s billionaire proprietor, Steve Cohen, to pay $130 million to Scherzer throughout 3 years.
The Mets offense was once simply as uninspiring Friday. They threatened to assault Darvish early with an competitive sport plan of stealing bases. Francisco Lindor was once hit through a pitch in the first inning and promptly stole 2nd base. He reached 3rd on a Jeff McNeil unmarried, however Pete Alonso and Daniel Vogelbach couldn’t money him in.
The similar factor came about in the 2nd inning, when Starling Marte led off the body with a unmarried to middle. He stole 2nd and 3rd, however Darvish retired Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar and Tomas Nido to strand Marte 90 ft from house.
New York went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring place and left six males on base. Besides Eduardo Escobar’s solo house run off Darvish in the 5th inning, the Mets had simply two extra-base hits all evening.
What started as a chance for a recent get started for a tortured fan base ended with the house crowd darting for the exits through the finish of the 7th inning. The DJ the Mets employed to publish up subsequent to the Shea Bridge in middle box didn’t learn the room. The Mets had been trailing 3-0 when he began enjoying “We Are The Champions” through Queen. The crowd — passionate however sensible lovers — answered with some half-hearted claps, nevertheless it was once most commonly surprised faces and silence.
No one was once in the temper for the DJ’s makes an attempt to pick out up the power. Only the Mets may do this.
The day ahead of his first playoff get started for this group, Scherzer spoke about his angle heading into his time out. He was once keen to get in the market, and he understood that the whole lot was once on the line. This is the playoffs, he stated. This is not any time to fiddle. It’s win or pass house.
Well, similar to that, the 101-win Mets are lower than 24 hours clear of flaming out and enjoying what might be their ultimate sport of the 12 months. On Saturday, Southpaw Blake Snell shall be on the hill for the Padres.
The Mets stated they might wait till the consequence of Game 1 to announce their Game 2 starter, suggesting that Jacob deGrom would take the mound if the Mets misplaced. Now it’s going to be on him to take a look at to save his group’s season.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB author for FOX Sports. She up to now coated the Mets for the New York Daily News. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
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