The New York Mets are looking to build some momentum with interim manager Andy Green after dropping his first series as the skipper against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Mets went down 3-0 in the third after swingman Tobias Myers ran into some trouble, and the right-hander gave up six hits and struck out three over three innings of work as the first bulk guy out of the bullpen.
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New York would counter with an RBI single from right fielder Carson Benge in the fifth before center fielder A.J. Ewing went deep to tie the game at 3 in the sixth. Benge recorded another RBI on a fielder’s choice, giving the Mets a temporary 4-3 lead.
The lead went away in the seventh inning after Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber unloaded for his 30th homer of the season. It came off struggling righty Kodai Senga, who was demoted from the starting rotation and moved to the bullpen.
Senga pitched well overall, but the homer was a backbreaker as the Mets failed to score another run, losing the game 5-4. The former All-Star tossed five innings and allowed three other hits and one walk while striking out four.
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This season has been a mess for New York and there’s a lot of work to do if the team wants to put itself in position to compete for a playoff spot. Green did make a change that Mendoza wouldn’t make, and that was making Jared Young the starting first baseman over Mark Vientos, who hasn’t been sharp defensively.
The Mets will begin a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday and Young will likely be in the lineup against right-hander Trey Yesavage, while Toronto will take on lefty Sean Manaea.
Yesavage took the baseball world by storm last season, pitching in just three games before dominating the playoffs and nearly leading the Blue Jays to a World Series championship. He is 3-3 with a 3.56 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 58 strikeouts to 30 walks through 11 starts (60.2 innings).
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Yesavage last worked against the Houston Astros and pitched well besides struggling with command. He allowed one run on two hits and five walks while fanning five through 5.2 innings.
Manaea is 1-2 with a 4.87 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 60 strikeouts to 20 walks through 17 games (three starts, 57.1 innings). Manaea replaced Senga in the rotation and pitched well during his first two outings but struggled his last time out against the Chicago Cubs. The veteran southpaw allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while punching out four over three innings.
First pitch is at 7:07 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
