Final Score: Pirates 6, Mets 4—It’s the same game on repeat

It was more of the same on Monday night, as the Mets fell 6-4 to the Pirates. Seth Lugo didn’t have his best stuff, but the defense was the much bigger problem. Two of the three runs Lugo allowed were unearned after errors by Luis Guillorme, and he had to work around a third error from Asdrubal Cabrera.

Tyler Bashlor made his major league debut and flashed some impressive stuff, but he also displayed his temperamental control and allowed a two-run home run. Robert Gsellman allowed one final run in the ninth, and he was also hurt by his defense on an infield single.

The Mets had ample opportunities to win this game, stranding men on base in the second, third, fifth, sixth, and eighth—and grounding into double plays in the first and eighth. The only offense came on an RBI double from Kevin Plawecki in the seventh and, two batters later, a pinch-hit, three-run home run from Wilmer Flores. Brandon Nimmo made an appearance, pinch running and playing left field but not recording an at-bat. Hopefully that means his finger injury isn’t too serious.

With the loss, the Mets’ record drops to 31-45, making them 20-44 since their 11-1 start and 1-14 in their last fifteen games at Citi Field. Steven Matz takes the mound against Chad Kuhl tomorrow evening in an attempt to end a seven-game skid.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

Nice job by MetsFan4Decades; her effort in the GameThread embiggens us all.

1. MetsFan4Decades: 134
2. Jets Mets Devils Nets 16: 47
3. Grominator: 42
4. stickguy: 34
5. deegie: 27
6. Gina: 25
7. Allison McCague: 24
8. AnneInFlushing: 21
9. MookieTheCat: 17
10. StorkFan: 16