At least the game was only two hours and 27 minutes.
It’s the same old song for the Mets, who seem to have a new worst loss of the season with each game. The Mets lost 1-0 to the Orioles on Wednesday afternoon, finishing a two-game sweep at the hands of the worst team in baseball.
“I think guys are pissed,” Mickey Callaway said after the game. “You could see it after the game today.
New York wasted seven shutout innings from Zack Wheeler and have now scored two runs in the last 42 innings. Met pitching held the Orioles to three runs and no extra base hits in the two-game series. But the Mets offense has now scored seven runs in six games.
As has been the case this week, strange plays and unfortunate circumstances seemed to follow the Mets around.
With the game in a scoreless tie, Kevin Plawecki doubled with two out in the bottom of the seventh. That meant Baltimore could intentionally walk Adrian Gonzalez, so Callaway had to pinch-hit for Wheeler, who was batting eighth. After Jose Bautista walked to loaded the bases, Amed Rosario struck out to end the inning.
With Wheeler out of the game, Baltimore took the lead against Jeurys Familia in the eighth.
Brandon Nimmo led off the home eighth with a single. Asdrubal Cabrera attempted to bunt for a single. Orioles pitcher Richard Bleier caught the bunt just before it hit the ground, and threw to first to double off Nimmo.
“Right idea,” Callaway said. “The ball just stayed up just enough for the pitcher to come in and scoop it.”
That’s the way things have gone for the Mets. They ground into out after out against the shift, not bunting for an easy single, and when they do bunt it turns into a double play.
Losing to the Cubs 7-1 in 14 innings was frustrating. Losing 2-0 the following day as Javier Baez scored the go-ahead run on a steal of home was bad. Losing to the Orioles on Tuesday night was worse. This is rock bottom.
For his part, Callaway is still optimistic. The pitching has been superb and has kept them in these games. And he thinks the hitting will come around.
“First of all, law of averages says that these guys are good players,” Callaway said. “They’re going to start swinging the bats. Second, I think that they’re willing. They’re working as hard as they can every day to go out there and be the best they can be.”
The hitting can’t remain this inept, although the starting pitching might not be able to remain this strong. Callaway hasn’t blamed injuries but is eager for the return of Yoenis Cespedes, comparing his absence to what it would be like if the Orioles were missing Manny Machado. And with Todd Frazier and Anthony Swarzak off the disabled list, the bats and bullpen are a little deeper.
Now with the season at a possible crossroads, the Yankees come to Queens for three games. The Yankees are fighting the Red Sox for first place. The Mets might already be fighting for their season.