The New York Mets (4-9) were swept in a four-game series for the first time in 2004 by the Colorado Rockies (10-2) tonight after a 9-4 beating in the second game of the double header. It's also their fifth consecutive loss -- and eight losses in the past nine games.
Despite the four-game domination by the Rockies, Mets fans got to witness one of the game's best players put on a demolition. Troy Tulowitzki homered in his fourth straight game against the Mets, while going 2-for-4; he went 10-for-16 in the series with eight RBI. He also was rock solid defensively throughout the series. This set couldn't have ended early for Mets pitchers who had to battle against the shortstop.
What's been so encouraging in the Mets' early season misery is the fact that they've enjoyed leads in six straight games, including this one, as they jumped out to a 2-0 second-inning advantage on a Mike Nickeas double. However, the next inning Chris Capuano allowed two runs himself. New York scored two more runs in the fourth inning on a Jose Reyes single, his 12th straight game with a hit.
Capuano's lead came undone in the sixth inning, as the Rockies put six runs on the board, of course started by Tulowitzki and his homerun. Brad Emaus botched a double-play ball with the bases loaded, which allowed the tying run to score and Dexter Fowler then singled in a run. Jonathan Herrera would then make the Mets pay by hitting a three-run homerun off of Taylor Buchholz to put the Rockies ahead, 8-4. Capuano finished with 5 2/3 innings pitched, eight hits and seven earned runs and currently sports a 8.76 ERA.
The Mets finished their homestand with a 1-6 record and will now travel to Atlanta to take on the Braves. Maybe getting away from New York will do them some good. Their play -- from fielding to baserunning to pitching -- has been downright pathetic since pretty much the first week of the season.