The Rockies out-hit the Mets 5-4 on Monday, but it sure didn’t feel like it.
Colorado was held scoreless and limited to one hit through six innings, and two runs in the seventh weren’t enough to beat New York. Tomoyuki Sugano had a no-hitter going through five, but gave up three straight hits in the sixth to give the Mets a lead they never lost.
The Mets (13-22) have now won three of their last four, while the Rockies (14-22) have lost four in a row. Mickey Moniak doubled and tripled, but was left
on base both times. At least he extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
Sixth not as sweet for Sugano
For five innings, Tomoyuki Sugano was unhittable. His one mistake was a walk to Carson Benge in the third inning, but it was quickly erased when Francisco Alvarez hit into a double play. Sugano was efficient, only needing 40 pitches to get through the first four innings. Through five innings, aided by a strong wind blowing in from center field, Sugano had one strikeout and seemed well on his way to a quality start.
However, the bottom of the Mets lineup figured out Sugano on their second time through. On the second pitch of the inning, Benge hit a cutter 436 feet into the bullpen beyond center field to put the Mets up 1-0.
Alvarez and Luis Torrens followed with back-to-back doubles to put New York ahead 2-0.
Juan Soto then drew a walk before Sugano got Bo Bichette to ground out in a fielder’s choice that moved the runners to second and third. It also knocked Sugano (2-3, 3.41 ERA) out of the game.
Jaden Hill entered and almost avoided further damage when he struck out MJ Melendez to give the Rockies two outs. That’s when Mark Vientos hit a two-run single to double the Mets’ lead.
Hill ended the inning by striking out Baty, but the damage was done.
Mets bullpen quiets Rockies bats to start game
For six innings, the Mets bullpen day was effective against the Rockies. Huascar Brazobán hit Tyler Freeman in the first inning, and even though he stole second, nothing came of it.
Austin Warren entered in the second and threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. He did give up a double to Mickey Moniak with two outs in the third. Freeman appeared to almost to drive him in, but he was robbed of a run-scoring hit when Benge made a diving catch to end the inning.
Colorado native David Peterson took over on the mound in the fourth and was lights out for New York. In his first three innings of work, Peterson struck out six of the nine batters he faced to help the Mets carry a 4-0 lead into the seventh.
Beck busts through
With two outs in the seventh, Willi Castro got the Rockies’ first hit since the third inning and the second total when he hit a bloop single to left-center field. Jordan Beck came up with a clutch triple when Benge fell trying to turn to run to the wall, allowing Castro to score the Rockies’ first run. Kyle Karros, despite going down 0-2 in a seven-pitch at-bat, followed up with a single to plate Beck to shrink the deficit.
Unfortunately, Ezequiel Tovar flied out to right to end the rally.
Mejia’s magic and a wasted chance
Juan Mejia relieved Hill and was untouchable in the seventh and eighth for the Rockies. Mejia faced six batters, striking out five of them, including Soto. Mejia kept the Rockies in the game, as did Brennan Bernardino, who threw a scoreless ninth.
Moniak did what Moniak does in the eighth, hitting a one-out triple, but the Rockies couldn’t take advantage. Freeman struck out and TJ Rumfield flied out to left. In the ninth, the Rockies had the hitters they wanted up, but Hunter Goodman and Castro flied out and Troy Johnston ended the game with a pitch-hit strikeout.
Up Next
The Rockies will play the Mets in game two of the series tomorrow. Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 6.09 ERA) will get the start for the Rockies, while New York will send Freddy Peralta (1-3, 3.52 ERA) to the mound. Game time is set for 6:40 p.m., but stay tuned to Purple Row for updates on the weather developments at Coors Field.
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