Game #20: Rockies 18, Mets 9

Troy Tulowitzki rounds the bases on a first-inning home run, only his second of the season. (NYDailyNews.com)

Um...I guess this qualifies as some kind of Amazin'.

Six errors and lousy pitching led to an avalanche of Colorado runs, as the Mets were buried by the Rockies 18-9.

The Bad Stuff:

• Once they got past the fourth E on the scorecard it was almost worth it just to see how comical things could get. The Mets finished the night with 6 errors, including 4 of them in an 11-run 5th inning, both franchise records.
• In order to get a full picture on the mediocrity of tonight's affair, let's consider a few pitching lines that would garner sympathy from even R.A. Dickey circa 2006:
• Chris Schwinden (Mike Pelfrey's replacement in the rotation): 4 innings, 7 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 2 HR
• Manny Acosta: 1/3 inning, 5 hits, 7 earned runs, 1 HR
• Ramon Ramirez: 1.2 innings, 4 hits, 4 unearned runs
• Bobby Parnell: 2/3 inning, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 GS
• Usually numbers don't tell the whole story, but tonight, the foul stench oozing from those numbers tells enough of a story.

The Good Stuff:

• What's even worse is that tonight's trouncing erases a really great offensive night for New York, who came one run short of matching their entire run total from the Marlins series.
• Most significant was Scott Hairston, who became the 10th Met ever to hit for the cycle, and first since Jose Reyes in 2006. He finished the day 4-5 with 3 runs and 4 RBIs.
• Also making big impacts at the plate were:
• Ruben Tejada (4-6, 2 runs)
• Lucas Duda (2-4, 1 run, 2 RBIs)
• Mike Nickeas (2-2, 1 RBI)
• Josh Thole (extended his hitting streak to 10 games)

Final Analysis:
Not even drowning my sorrows in some of that Rocky Mountain-fresh Coors would be able to take away the dumbfoundedness that reeks from tonight's beating. Just wow. The only analogy I could possibly make is falling down an endless flight of stairs, Looney Tunes style. And that staircase was pretty endless for New York tonight in Denver.

If there's any sort of positive to take from this night, it's this: if the Mets can manage it, they can bottle up all the awfulness that should be spread out over 4 games, release it and completely tank in 1 game, and still win 3 out of 4. Whatever works, right? Met fans would just have to make sure to stock up on their ibuprofen every 4th game.

MM