For those that want to call the New York Mets inconsistent, they clearly haven't been watching the games. The Mets continued to be consistently bad in all facets of the game Tuesday night as they lost for the eighth time in nine games, this time 6-1 to the Houston Astros.
Starter Jon Niese only gave up two runs, but walked five to go along with giving up seven hits over just six innings. As the Mets offense failed to provide any support, the bullpen took over the rest of the way.
One of the few bright spots for Terry Collins this season, Pedro Beato, gave up just an unearned run thanks to another misplay in left field by Scott Hairston.
The New York offense showed some signs of life in the bottom of the seventh inning when Carlos Beltran led off with his third home run of the season. After Ike Davis and Angel Pagan were retied, Hairston walked and recently called up Justin Turner singled to put the tying runs on base. However, with the pitcher's spot due up, Collins chose to pinch hit Chin-lung Hu instead of Daniel Murphy or Willie Harris. Hu was retired quietly as he flailed at three curve balls.
Ryota Igarashi started the eighth inning and put two runners on with back-to-back singles he sandwiched in between two strikeouts. Tim Byrdak tried to pick up the final out of the inning, but he gave up a single to speedster Michael Bourn to load the bases, bringing Bobby Parnell in from the pen. The erratic fire baller balked in the Astros fourth run before surrendering a two run single.
The Astros tried to give the Mets a shot at a comeback in the bottom of the eighth thanks to an error by third baseman Chris Johnson on a Jose Reyes grounder. Any thoughts of a big inning were quickly squashed as second base umpire Doug Eddings gave Bill Hall a force out at second base on a David Wright ground ball, even though the ball was clearly never caught.
The New York offense tried to get something going in the bottom of the eighth thanks to an error by Houston third baseman Chris Johnson. Any thoughts of a comeback were put to bed after second base umpire Doug Eddings gave Bill Hall a force out at second on a David Wright grounder, even though the ball was clearly never caught.
Taylor Buchholz provided the sole perfect inning by a Mets pitcher in the ninth.
Ike David led off the bottom of the ninth with a double down the left field line, but Pagan, Harris and Turner were put down in order.
The Mets will try to get back on the winning track when these two teams meet again on Wednesday at 7:10pm. R.A. Dickey will take on Bud Norris.
If you had a ticket for Tuesday night's game, the team announced you can redeem it for a complimentary ticket to see the Mets take on the Pittsburgh Pirates May 30-June 2.