Game #119: D'backs 6, Mets 4

Explanation for today's late publication? Try a massive thunderstorm that hit Indiana last night that stranded me in a place without Internet (yes, they still have those places). I had to stay the night just outside Muncie and got back home this morning. Fortunately for my blog, I kept track of the game on my phone. Unfortunately, well, read on.

Mike Pelfrey was knocked out of the game by a ball to the elbow and the bullpen couldn't hold the lead, as the Mets fell to the Diamondbacks 6-4.

The Bad Stuff:

• More injuries? You gotta be kidding. After pitching 4 not-spectacular-but-solid innings, Mike Pelfrey left in the 5th after a Gerardo Parra line drive struck his right elbow. DJ Carrasco was brought in with a 4-2 lead, but put a second runner on with a hit-by-pitch, then gave up a 3-run homer to Ryan Roberts, which put Arizona in the lead for good.
• Pedro Beato gave up one more run in the 6th, not that D'backs' pitcher Daniel Hudson would need it. Hudson gave up 4 runs on 6 hits in his first 4 innings, then 2 hits total his last 4. The Mets' last hit came in the 6th inning; they would get one more baserunner the rest of the night.
• New York's 2-5 hitters (Willie Harris, David Wright, Lucas Duda, Jason Bay) combined to do the least, going 0-14 collectively.

The Good Stuff:

• Things looked good through the 4th inning.
• After falling behind 2-0 in the 1st, the Mets struck back in the 2nd: Ruben Tejada's 2-out, 2-run double tied the game at 2 (that's a lot of 2s).
• In the 4th, Ronny Paulino doubled, then was brought home by young Mike Baxter, who hit his first career triple and gave the Mets the lead. He was brought home two batters later by none other than Mike Pelfrey, who helped his own cause with an RBI single.
• Baxter finished his first career road start 2-4 with 2 runs and the RBI triple.
• Bobby Parnell looked much better than he had been, pitching a perfect 8th and striking out one.

Final Analysis:
Four losses in a row. Reality may finally be setting in for this beaten and battered ball club. Is this when they bottom out? After everything that's gone right this year, I sure hope not.

MM

P.S. My heart goes out to the victims of the tragedy at the Indiana State Fair. I've been to that stage before and never would have believed it could have been toppled like that. Just unbelievable, just too tragic.