CAUGHT! Eric Young Jr. is tagged out by Jordy Mercer trying to steal second base during the first inning of the Mets’ 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Pirates last night in Pittsburgh. (
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PITTSBURGH — Welcome to the big leagues, kid.
An adjustment inning — or even a batter — for Gonzalez Germen in his major league debut last night wasn’t an option. The Mets right-hander was handed the ball in a tie game in the 11th inning at PNC Park and given the task of facing the heart of the Pirates batting order.
The speed of the game might be faster in the majors, but one essential rule never changes regardless of the level: Walking the leadoff hitter of an inning is a bad idea. Germen walked Andrew McCutchen to start the 11th and watched him score on Jordy Mercer’s dribbler through the middle, sending the Mets to a 3-2 lossin front of 39,036.
“I walked the leadoff guy with no outs and the inning got complicated,” the 25-year-old Germen said after the Mets’ four-game winning streak was snapped.
With LaTroy Hawkins unavailable because of right triceps soreness that has been an issue in recent days, manager Terry Collins had only Germen and closer Bobby Parnell remaining in his bullpen. And the manager was against the idea of using his closer in a tie game on the road. Germen had pitched only once since June 29 at Triple-A Las Vegas.
“The one thing you’ve got to make them do is swing the bat,” Collins said. “But I tell you what, he made some impressive pitches.”
McCutchen walked and stole second after Pedro Alvarez struck out. Russell Martin was then intentionally walked, before Gaby Sanchez struck out. Mercer then delivered the game-winner on a broken-bat roller through the middle.
“It just came down to getting that big hit and they got it before we did,” David Wright said.
The Mets (40-49) are accustomed to working extended hours. Last night’s game was their 12th that went extra innings. The Mets are 5-7 in those games, which included a 16-inning victory in San Francisco on Monday.
Wright hit a shot to center in the top of the 10th last night with runners on first and second, but McCutchen was positioned perfectly to make the catch and end the threat.
The Pirates threatened to win the game in the ninth after Starling Marte doubled leading off against David Aardsma. But the fourth pitcher of the inning, Josh Edgin, retired Sanchez for the final out without the run scoring. After Marte had reached third on a sacrifice bunt and McCutchen was walked, Scott Rice entered and struck out Alvarez. Greg Burke walked Martin to load the bases and Edgin got Sanchez on a grounder to first.
Jeremy Hefner lasted seven innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts. It was Hefner’s eighth straight start allowing two earned runs or fewer.
Despite the fact Hefner had thrown only 78 pitches, he was removed for pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin, who struck out leading off the eighth.
Hefner indicated he was disappointed to receive the hook, but didn’t fight it.
“I’m not in a position in my career to confront [Collins] there,” Hefner said. “I agree with it and I’m for it.”
Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ homer leading off the seventh against Charlie Morton made it 2-2. The homer was Nieuwenhuis’ third of the season and second in eight days. In between, Nieuwenhuis had a five-RBI game in Milwaukee last Friday.
Wright’s RBI single in the sixth pulled the Mets within 2-1. Eric Young Jr. slashed a double to left with one out — barely beating the tag at second — before Wright hit a bloop single to right for his 44th RBI of the season.
Alvarez’s two-run homer in the first got the Pirates an early lead. The homer was Alvarez’s 24th of the season and came a day after Wright selected him to replace injured Carlos Gonzalez in next week’s Home Run Derby. But the selection hasn’t appeased the fans here, who booed Wright all night to voice displeasure Alvarez wasn’t originally selected to the team.