The fact that the losing pitcher was the closest thing the Mets had to a bright spot Sunday shows just how things are going in Flushing these days. Jon Niese was betrayed by his struggling lineup, shaky defense and sorry bullpen, all culpable in a 5-1 loss to Philadelphia that ran their season-high skid to four straight.
Want to put a number on their misery? Three: As in getting held to only three hits, making three errors and mustering just three wins in a nine-game homestand. Want to put an image to their malaise? Try John Buck’s two-out error in the seventh, opening the door for Ryan Howard’s two-RBI double off Scott Atchison to break a 1-1 tie – and break the Mets’ collective backs.
Niese matched Cole Hamels (1-3) in a pitchers’ duel until giving up two-out singles to Lance Nix and Jimmy Rollins in the seventh. When Terry Collins went to Atchison, Phillies manager brought Howard off the bench; and when Atchison fell behind 2-0 and had to challenge Howard, the slugger drilled a 92 mph cutter off the fence in center for a 3-1 lead.
Chase Utley singled to left on the next pitch to make it 4-1. The way the Mets have(n’t) hit, it might as well have been 14-1, or 40.
“I was trying to make a good pitch low and away on 2-0 and I didn’t do it. I didn’t execute the pitch. I wanted to pick up Jon right there, get us out of that inning and I didn’t execute,’’ said Atchison. “I didn’t execute. I left it back over the middle. He’s a good hitter and made me pay.’’
Niese – who’d left his last start after just 2 1/3 innings after being hit on the leg by a comebacker – paid for the Mets’ leaky defense and cold bats. He threw 6 2/3 strong innings but gave up two unearned runs, thanks to Buck dropping Nix’ foul popup with two out and nobody on in the seventh.
“It comes down to we didn’t support him…We just didn’t get it done (offensively) and it showed,’’ said Buck, who had a long run to even get a glove on Nix’ popup. “It hit my glove; I should’ve caught it. Anything that hits my glove I should be able to catch it.’’
But Buck couldn’t catch it, and Niese couldn’t stop Nix from singling to left or Rollins from singling to center to end his day after 117 pitches.
“I did my best to pick (Buck) up there and unfortunately I wasn’t able to do that,’’ said Niese (2-2). “I didn’t want to (leave)…My pitch count was up there. The situation called for it. But I definitely wanted to be in there.’’
Instead, Collins turned to Atchison, who gave up consecutive hits to Howard and Utley and Brandon Lyon who allowed a run in the eighth. The Mets’ cold bats never looked a threat to come back.
They’ve managed five or fewer hits in five of their last seven games, hitting just .186 with 81 strikeouts on a 3-6 homestand, now headed out to Miami and Atlanta.
“We just didn’t hit. Right now we’ve hit a slump offensively. We’re still in April; we’ll pick it up,’’ said Collins. “This is a game of ups and downs; right now we’re in a down time. Well, you’ve got to forget about it. It’s hard, but you’ve gotta pick yourself up.’’