The Mets fell back to take the lead before ultimately falling to the Rockies 10-7 in Game 2 of a three-game series from Coors Field in Colorado.
Here are the takeaways…
1. Justin Verlander took the ball for the Mets on Saturday night. The veteran entered with previous success at Coors Field to the tune of a 1.20 ERA. The right-hander worked fast in an eight-pitch first inning, striking out the first two batters on just three pitches.
One inning later, however, Colorado knocked out bats throughout the game’s first innings order. nolan jones plaque Randal Grichuk with the third single of the inning. A batter later, Alan Trejo pushed a double down the right field line to score another run. With the bases loaded, Charlie Blackman dug a slider on the inside half for another double and two more runs for the Rockies.
After another run for the Rockies in the third inning, Verlander made an athletic play after a Trejo return deflected off the pitcher’s shin to find the ball and toss home to get Harold Castro. Verlander fought back to go five innings with consecutive scoreless frames.
2. Through the first frames, chase anderson was just as good for Colorado. The right-hander pitched to contact early for quick takedowns against New York. Francisco Alvarez momentarily tripped the Mets with a double field to right center and slid safely to third base before replay review showed him sliding off base as Ryan McMahon kept the tag applied. The Mets went up the board in the fourth when Pete Alonso broke the 20 homer plateau with a shot from 415 feet into left field.
3. At the time, New York’s best chance for a big inning was fifth after Marc Canha And Marc Vientos reached to start the round. Anderson stepped in to force Alvarez out. Nimmo hit before Castro flew Francois Lindor additional bases with a sliding grip in space to end the round and block runners.
For the second straight innings of the sixth, two straight runners reached the Mets to start the frame. This time, New York cashed in like Brett Baty delivered a double to center left and put the runners in second and third without anyone coming out. Starling Marte followed by a groundout to score Alonso and cut the lead in half at 6-3. A Vientos single later in the inning brought the tying run home with Jacques Bird coming in relief for Colorado for the second straight day. In that batting game, Alvarez redeemed his slip from earlier in the night as he demolished a three-run homer to left field to tie the score. New York erased an early 6-0 deficit. After the Rockies posted five points in the second, the Mets rallied for their own five-point frame.
4. After a series of crucial hits over several innings, Marte put the Mets ahead for the first time in the game in the rain at Coors Field with an RBI single to the right to drive home Jeff McNeil.
In Saturday’s back-and-forth contest, the Rockies immediately responded down the frame on a McMahon two-run home run to second deck in right field off of Jeff Brigham.
5. justin laurent found relief rhythm, retiring the Mets in the order in the top of the eighth. The reliever entered with a 2.33 ERA as part of a bullpen that had Colorado 19-0 as they led after seven innings entering play Saturday. Jurickson Profar added an insurance run with a triple RBI then scored on a single from Elias Diaz.
Pierre Johnson came on for the stoppage and put down the Mets to close out the 10-7 win for Colorado.
Strong points
And after
The Mets close out the three-game series in Colorado on Sunday afternoon against the Rockies. The first pitch is set for 3:10 p.m. on SNY.
Tylor Megill will face left Austin Gomber.