CHICAGO — Live and learn.
Mets rookie Pedro Beato yesterday discovered the importance of taking his time to prepare when replacing an injured pitcher. Beato was summoned when R.A. Dickey limped off the field in the third inning and says he may have rushed his warm ups.
“I’m not used to being in that situation, it was probably the first time,” Beato said after the Mets lost 9-3 to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Though Beato got an out to escape the third inning, he allowed four runs on four hits and two walks in the fourth. The Cubs led 4-1 and weren’t threatened for the rest of the game. Carlos Pena’s two-run homer was the big hit in the inning.
“There are certain parts of the game where you want to try and shut them down,” manager Terry Collins said. “I thought in that situation, with the middle of their lineup and as well as he’s pitched out of the bullpen he was the guy to get us to the fifth. It’s another learning part of the game he’s got to be able to get through, so we’ll move on.”
Beato said he threw about 20 warm-up pitches after entering in the third — he was allowed as many as he wanted replacing an injured pitcher — but rushed to get ready. He said he also didn’t react well to the chilly weather — it was 42 degrees at first pitch.
Pat Misch didn’t fare much better than Beato, allowing three earned runs on four hits and a walk over one inning. Tim Byrdak and Jason Isringhausen each allowed a run later. But Beato was disappointed he put the Mets in a tough spot.
“I was in a situation and it just didn’t go well,” Beato said. “I was very unprepared. I just couldn’t get a feel for anything mentally or with my body or for the ball. I couldn’t get a feel for it at all.”