Diamondbacks 1, Mets 4: No More Late Inning Heroes

Record: 59-56.  Pace: 83-79.  Change over last year: +1.

The Diamondbacks little mini-streak has ended (That sound you hear is Dodgers and Braves fans laughing at our pitiful win streak).  It was a fairly normal kind of 2013 Diamondbacks game, in that more than good enough starting pitching was spoiled by a lack of sustained offense and shoddy relief work.

Arizona had its chances, but Zack Wheeler looked good out on the mound for the Mets tonight.  He went 6 1/3 innings, gave up 6 hits with no walks, and struck out 4.  Outside of the 11 total hits, the Mets pitching was very solid, bending but not breaking.  It seemed like every time the D-backs might get something going New York would find a way to pull out the stop.

The Mets took the lead first during the Dreaded 4th Inning.  Juan Lagares started the inning with a solo home run.  Then Ike Davis hit a two out double, and was brought home with a Wilmer Flores single.  The damage was halted at 2 runs, though, as Flores then proceeded to run into an out at third base on Jon Buck single, ending the threat.

Brandon McCarthy was settled before the 4th, and although he wasn't quite as solid the rest of the way, at least he wasn't giving up more runs.  He certainly did his part to set the team up for a win, going 7 innings and giving up only 2 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk.  He also struck out 4.

The Diamondbacks attempted to rally in the 7th, but came up short.  Aaron Hill ended the shut out with a solo shot, and the Diamondbacks then loaded the bases with 2 outs.  It seemed like they should have been able to get at least one more, but it wasn't to be.  With a runner at third, Chad Pennington struck out and Adam Eaton grounded into a fielder's choice.

The Mets then shut the door in the 8th, or, perhaps more precisely, David Hernandez continued his descent into madness.  He loaded the bases with 2 outs, then gave up a 2 run single to bring the score to 4-1.  Only a great sliding catch by Gerardo Parra ended in the inning and more runs from scoring, but the Diamondbacks hopes were already lost.

Hernandez hasn't been great this year, and at times has looked positively dreadful.  The Diamondbacks front office must feel the same way, as he was optioned immediately after the game to AAA Reno.  Tough break, and I hope for his sake he can work on some things and be able to continue his career.

Oh sure, the Diamondbacks loaded the bases in their half of the 8th.  But with 2 outs Gerardo Parra would be called out on strikes, ending Arizona's last gasping chance at a win.

I don't mean to nag on poor Parra, as there's no way I could have done better, but getting a strikeout looking to end an inning with the bases loaded is brutal.  Yes, the pitch was out of the strikezone and probably should have been a ball, but it was close enough that in the situation you have to pull the trigger.  Perhaps Parra was looking away and couldn't adjust.

Oreos: Brandon McCarthy (9.7%)

Knock-off Creme Cookies: Adam Eaton (-21.9%), Chad Pennington (-17.2%), David Hernandez (-16.9%)

Not a busy Gameday Thread at all, not even breaking 300 comments.  Total roster of commenters included: AJV19, AzDbackfanInDc, AzRattler, Clefo, Diamondhacks, GuruB, Husk, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, JoelPre, TolkienBard, asteroid, cheese1213, cole8865, globaldistrust, hotclaws, melliemacker, onedotfive, preston.salisbury, soco, and xmet

Tomorrow afternoon is the rubber match of the series, where the winner takes the series, and the loser gets remembered in the yearbook as the kid who farted during the biology final.  First pitch is at 1:10pm Arizona Time, and features 2 pitchers that no one cares about.  See you then!