Mets vs. Rockies Recap: Rockies walk Mets off in Rosario’s debut

Although the Mets did hold a brief lead, the Colorado Rockies came from behind to defeat New York 5-4 on Tuesday night. Top prospect Amed Rosario also made his major league debut.

The Mets got on the board quickly during the top of the first. Michael Conforto walked, and was quickly doubled home by Yoenis Cespedes to put the Mets ahead 1-0. Rockies starter Jeff Hoffman struck out Jay Bruce and coaxed a ground out from Neil Walker to end the top of the frame.

The next run came in the sixth inning, when Cespedes hit a line drive single and Bruce hit an RBI double to score a run.

Steven Matz seemed as if he was finally having a good start. He certainly needed one, as he entered last night’s game with a 2-4 record and a 5.51 ERA. Things looked as if they were going his way, as he held the red hot Rockies offense hitless through four and a third innings. His first hit came from Trevor Story, who legged out an infield single against Amed Rosario, who seemed to bauble the ball before throwing the first. The hit was originally scored and as an E-6 for Rosario before being quickly changed to a single.

During the bottom of the sixth, things started to unravel for Matz, as he allowed a single to Charlie Blackmon and a double to LeMahieu. Nolan Arenado was next to the plate, and served up a three run home run over the center field wall - his 24th of the year. After allowing a double to Mark Reynolds, Matz was pulled from the game, finishing his night with two strikeouts, two walks, and three earned runs.

Josh Smoker entered in relief and coaxed a fly out from Gerardo Parra. Trevor Story was intentionally walked before Smoker struck out Carlos Gonzalez. With the left handed hitter retired, Erik Goeddel replaced Smoker, and struck out Ryan Hanigan to end the inning.

In the seventh inning, newly acquired Rockie Pat Neshek struck out Travis d’Arnaud to begin the frame. Neshek struck out Reyes as well, but a passed ball from Hanigan allowed Reyes to safely reach first. Conforto singled to Blackmon in center field, who seemed to just allow Reyes to reach third base without a throw. Conforto had a great night at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. A short sacrifice fly from Asdrubal Cabrera brought in the tying run, aided by Blackmon spiking the throw to the plate, allowing Reyes to score easily.

The Mets regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning, as Jay Bruce hit his 28th home run of the year to make the score 4-3. Rockies pitcher Chris Rusin struck out Neil Walker, and was replaced by Scott Oberg, who coaxed a groudout from Wilmer Flores.

After going hitless in his first three at bats, including a strikeout, Amed Rosario recorded his first big league hit - an infield single against Oberg. The throw from Story missed first base, allowing Rosario to advance to second.

Paul Sewald entered in the eighth inning after recording a strikeout against Raimel Tapia and getting two fly outs from LeMahieu and Arenado. He allowed a lead-off single during the bottom of the eighth to Reynolds, and was pulled from the game in favor of Jerry Blevins. Blevins allowed a single to Gerardo Parra before Story grounded into a forceout. Rosario was quick to the ball, but Cabrera was not covering third base, forcing Rosario to toss to second for the out. Carlos Gonzalez hit an RBI single to plate Reynolds and tie the score at four apiece. Hansel Robles relieved Sewald, and he retired the last two batters to end the inning.

Robles led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk to Blackmon. LeMahieu singled to Rosario, who had started to move toward second to cover the bag and wasn’t able to turn the ground ball into any outs. Arenado hit a single to plate Blackmon and secure the walk off win for the Rockies.

The Mets will send Chris Flexen to the mound for his second major league start agains the Rockie’s Tyler Chatwood tonight at 8:40pm.

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What’s WPA?

Big winners: Jay Bruce +27% WPA, Michael Conforto +12.7% WPA
Big losers: Jerry Blevins -22.3% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Jay Bruce 8th inning solo home run +20.8% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Asdrubal Cabrera third inning double play -7.8% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: -36.9% WPA
Total batter WPA: -13.1% WPA
GWRBI!: Nolan Arenado 9th inning walk off single