Jose Reyes’ potential final home opener for the Mets was worth forgetting.Though the shortstop produced a defensive gem in the Mets’ 6-2 loss to the Nationals yesterday, two failed plate appearances loomed larger.
With the tying run at second base and one out in the fifth inning, Reyes flied out against Jordan Zimmermann.
Two innings later, with the tying run at third and go-ahead run at second and one out, Reyes struck out against Tyler Clippard.
“I’m trying to put the ball in play there, but [Clippard] made some good pitches on me,” Reyes said. “I had an opportunity there to tie the game at least and I wasn’t able to come through.”
Reyes’ glove had helped the Mets avoid disaster in the fifth. With the bases loaded, he made a sliding stop on Rick Ankiel’s grounder and stepped on second before throwing to first for an inning-ending double play.
Reyes, who is unsigned beyond this year and could be traded later this season, said it didn’t enter his mind that yesterday could have been his last home opener for the Mets.
“I don’t think that way,” he said. “I’m focused on playing baseball right now.”
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Carlos Beltran is slated to have tomorrow off, sticking to manager Terry Collins‘ plan of resting the right fielder following night games. . . . Chin-lung Hu may also get a start at second base. Collins indicated he considered giving Daniel Murphy the start at second yesterday, but had liked what he saw from Brad Emaus in recent at-bats. Murphy received some of the loudest cheers during pregame introductions.
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Yesterday marked only the fourth time in 28 starts with the Mets that R.A. Dickey failed to pitch at least six innings. Dickey’s five walks tied a career high. He had last walked five batters on July 5, 2008, for Seattle, facing Detroit.
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David Wright‘s fourth-inning double extended his hitting streak in Mets home openers to seven games. Wright had homered in each of the last two Citi Field openers. Overall, Wright is batting .345 (10-for-29) with three homers and seven RBIs in seven home openers with the Mets.
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Collins was expecting to receive an update on Jason Bay but never connected with the injured outfielder, who is working out in Port St. Lucie. Bay (ribcage) hit from a tee on Thursday.