Johan Santana against one of the worst lineups in the major leagues was no contest last night.
If the Cubs hit Santana any harder, the Mets lefty would have needed a standing eight count and smelling salts. As it was, he seemed fortunate to surrender just seven earned runs in the Mets’ 8-7 loss at Citi Field.
Another magical ninth-inning Mets comeback never fully materialized, as Lucas Duda’s line drive was snagged by pitcher Carlos Marmol and turned into a game-ending double play. The Mets had scored three runs in the inning and put the tying and go-ahead runs on base.
Santana (6-5) closed his first half with a stinker, tying a career high by allowing 13 hits — three of them were homers — on a night he lasted 4 2/3 innings. Though the lefty twisted his right ankle and had it stepped on by Reed Johnson at first base during the Cubs’ five-run outburst in the fifth, Santana denied it affected his performance.
“I wasn’t thinking about it at the time,” Santana said. “I just wanted to continue and try to get some outs. The execution was poor. I wasn’t able to keep the ball down and they hit it out.”
Santana said he felt soreness in the ankle after the game, but he doesn’t expect it to affect his next start.
The Mets need to figure out a plan for keeping these Bad News Cubbie Bears from resembling Monsters of the Midway. This latest loss was the Mets’ third in four games over the last 12 days to the Cubs, who remain tied with the Rockies for the worst record in the majors at 32-51.
Travis Wood (4-3) beat the Mets for the second time this year, limiting them to three runs (two earned) over six-plus innings. The Mets chipped away later, getting a run in the eighth before Jordany Valdespin hit a solo homer in the ninth to ignite the comeback charge against Marmol. Ike Davis’ two-run single later in the inning brought the Mets to the brink of tying the game before Duda’s ball was snagged by Marmol, starting the double play.
“Bad baserunning by me and a good play by the pitcher,” said Davis, who was doubled off first base. “My thought was to break up [the double play]. I was just too far off the bag to be able to get back.”
David Wright said there was no moral victory in the rally.
“It’s nice to be able to pat yourself on the back a little bit, but it really doesn’t mean much,” Wright said.
Much of the momentum from the Mets’ wild ninth-inning comeback victory against Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon on Thursday disappeared during a hellacious fifth inning when the Cubs sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs, knocking out Santana.
It capped a two-day spree by opponents in which the Mets’ two aces — Santana and R.A. Dickey — surrendered a combined 12 earned runs on 24 hits over 11 2/3 innings. Last week in Los Angeles, Santana and Dickey combined to pitch 16 shutout innings, allowing six hits.
The Cubs entered play second-to-last in the National League in runs (301) and were 13th in home runs (68). But Johnson, Anthony Rizzo and Jeff Baker all took Santana deep.
After Santana twisted his ankle in the fifth, Rizzo’s three-run bomb gave the Cubs a 5-2 lead. Baker hit a solo homer against him later in the inning, and another run scored before manager Terry Collins finally yanked Santana.
“He’s made a career of getting out of trouble,” Collins said, explaining his decision to stick with Santana. “If anybody can do it he can.”