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New York Mets Lose Second Game Of Series To Arizona Diamondbacks

By Kenneth Teape

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8. 2. 3. Final. 7

New York Mets offense comes up short in loss to Arizona Diamondbacks as Jon Niese has best start in a while

The New York Mets were able to take multiple leads tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but were not able to hold onto any of them, as they lost the second game of the series to the Diamondbacks. The Mets were unable to deliver the big blow tonight to put the Diamondbacks in the hole, which allowed them to stick around and eventually take control of the game later on.

The Mets constantly had Diamondbacks starter Jeremy Hellickson on the ropes, but allowed him to stick around long enough that the Diamondbacks were then able to set up their bullpen for the end of the game as they wanted to. They were able to take the lead in the second inning off the bat of Michael Cuddyer, who hit his sixth home run of the season. The Mets never allowed Hellickson to get comfortable on the mound, as they had at least one guy on base the first five innings of the game.

Unfortunately, Hellickson was able to limit the damage every time. The Mets were able to get to him for another run in the fourth inning, but had to come out of that inning a little disappointed. After an RBI single from Eric Campbell, which snapped his 0-28 streak at the plate, Hellickson for Anthony Recker to line out before walking Jon Niese to load the bases. The Mets had to be licking their chops, as they looked poised to blow the game open.

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That didn’t happen though, as Hellickson was able to strike out Curtis Granderson on three pitches, which amounted to a very ugly at-bat. Granderson took what looked like two very hittable fastballs, before swinging at a ball out of the zone and ending the inning. It enabled Hellickson to go that extra inning, which proved to be the difference in the game.

Hellickson would finish the game with a pedestrian line of six innings pitched, allowing six hits and three walks, resulting in only two runs, to go with six strikeouts.

For the Mets, Jonathon Niese pitched much better than he had recently, throwing well enough to put the Mets in position to win. Niese gave up a runs in the third and sixth innings, surrendering both leads the Mets gave him rather quickly. But, they were unable to pick him up a third time as the bullpen then came in and the Diamondbacks blew things open.

This was a very encouraging start for Niese though, especially with Terry Collins announcing that the six-man rotation would be coming to an end already. Niese and Dillon Gee were thought to be the players on the chopping block, and after tonight’s performance it is fair to think that Gee will be the one being removed. Niese wasn’t lights out, but pitched a gutsy game, which was better than what he had been giving recently, throwing six innings, allowing six hits and one walk for three runs, to go with a season-high eight strikeouts.

The Mets struggled with the meat of the Diamondbacks order tonight, as the two-three-four hitters, A.J. Pollock, Paul Goldschmidt and Yasmany Tomas, all had strong games. The three combined to go 6-10 at the plate with one walk, as Pollock and Goldschmidt also added a stolen base each. The trio also scored and knocked in four runs combined, as the Mets just couldn’t figure out a way to get them out.

The Mets now sit a ½ game behind the Washington Nationals for first place in the NL East. They will look to get back into first, and take control of this series against the Diamondbacks tomorrow night, as Bartolo Colon looks for his ninth win of the season, and will be opposed by promising youngster Chase Anderson.

Next: Where are the Mets in our MLB Power Rankings?

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