Zack Wheeler gave the Mets the modern-day quality start. But the way the way the lineup is struggling and with their bullpen imploding, quality isn’t good enough to win.
What’s more concerning for the Mets is the fact the young pitcher threw at times as if he knew it.
The Mets lost 8-2 Thursday, with most of that damage coming against the bullpen. But Wheeler castigated himself for the three runs he gave up in six solid-but-unspectacular innings.
“Yeah, it all starts with me, though, giving up the three runs,” Wheeler said. “It should’ve pitched better and not given up any.”
Asked if he didn’t think his performance was good enough, Wheeler said, “No, not really. To win ball games you’ve got to keep your walks down, keep your runs down and keep guys off the bases.’’
Wheeler gave up seven hits and just two walks while striking out six. But that second walk came back to haunt him.
Wheeler couldn’t get out Ryan Zimmerman, who went 4-for-4, and tagged him for a solo shot to left in the second inning.
He also gave up two in the fifth. Wheeler walked No. 8 hitter Sandy Leon and paid for it, seeing him score and Jason Werth stroke a two-out RBI single.
“Yeah, I was trying to go away and fastballs I was throwing arm side they were just leaking out a bit,’’ Wheeler said. “Everything else was down and hit my spots, but arm side was leaking a bit. I made some good adjustments here and there to tune it up but that just got away from me a bit.’’
Manager Terry Collins said there was a possibility the Mets’ numerous woes played a role in his young starter’s pitching.
“Yeah,’’ Collins said. “Again, everybody walks somebody; they’re not perfect by any means. Zack pitched a very good game. But one of the things again as good as they are, don’t be afraid to go after them.
“I’m sure he wasn’t trying to pitch around anybody or hit the corners, he just didn’t throw strikes. But again, we’ve talked about this in the past, once in awhile there’s no room for error.
Collins said Wheeler can’t change his style, no matter how badly the offense is struggling.
“We’re not scoring,” Collins said. “We’re not doing much offensively, and all of a sudden when you’re pitching you start to pitch carefully because you’re afraid to give up a home run or give up the big hit, because we’re not scoring. You’ve got to go be yourself, pitch your game, stay aggressive in the strike zone, stay positive and give is a chance to catch the ball.’’
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud praised Wheeler’s improving changeup, which he used to strike out Bryce Harper, and said his stuff was solid — the young starter just missed on his location and it cost him.
“It was good,” d’Arnaud said. “He just had a couple pitches up over the middle of the plate and they got hit.’’