The Mets got another quality start from Marcus Stroman and Dominic Smith drove in three, but the backend of the bullpen couldn't hold it down, as the D-backs won 6-5 in 10 innings on Tuesday.
Marcus Stroman got off to an excellent start on Tuesday night, as he pitched his way through the first five innings without allowing a run, striking out five while allowing four hits. But the sixth was a different story. After allowing the first two men to reach base, Stroman served up a three-run shot to Pavin Smith, a no-doubter to right that changed the outlook of the game.
Stroman's night ended after six, as he still end up with another quality start, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out six D-backs.
The Mets’ offense got off to a slow start against lefty Caleb Smith, but a Pete Alonso single with two outs in the fourth was good for the Mets’ first hit of the night, and next up, Dominic Smith launched a two-run home run to right-center to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.
It was a much-needed blast for Smith, who had not homered in his last 138 at-bats.
As the fifth inning came to a close, Stroman and Josh Rojas appeared to have some words as the Mets came off the field, to the point of both benches emptying. There were no punches thrown and tensions didn’t seem to be too high, as no players were ejected.
Rojas said he was trying to “stir the pot,” but declined to reveal what he said to Stroman.
“He was looking at me after I flew out, we made eye contact and had an exchange of words,” Rojas said. “I wasn’t trying to cause anything major.”
Stroman declined to answer several questions about the brief skirmish
In the sixth, after Jonathan Villar singled, Francisco Lindor slammed a triple off the wall in center field, making it a 3-0 game. The Mets scored their fourth run later that inning, as Smith hit a deep fly ball to right. Josh Reddick made a nice leaping grab at the wall but it was good enough to score Lindor from third.
Jeurys Familia found himself in a jam in the seventh inning, thanks in part to a Villar two-base error that allowed leadoff man Nick Ahmed to reach. But Familia got a huge strikeout of Eduardo Escobar to escape the inning unscathed.
After Aaron Loup pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, Edwin Diaz entered for the save chance in the ninth. After a Stephen Vogt strikeout, Ahmed singled and reached second as Billy McKinney bobbled the ball in right. After a groundout moved Ahmed to third with two outs, Rojas delivered with an RBI hit, tying the game and handing Diaz his first blown save of the season.
After a bloop single from Ketel Marte moved Rojas to second, Escobar flew out to center to end the inning.
In the top of the tenth, with Jose Peraza starting the inning at second base, pinch-hitter James McCann delivered with an inside-out double down the first-base line, putting the Mets back on top 5-4.
In the bottom half, it was Trevor May called on to close it out, but after a walk to Smith, Reddick pulled a double down the right-field line that was just barely fair. The ball bounced away from Brandon Drury in right, and the Mets’ five-game win streak came to an end.
The Mets fall to 26-21 but maintain their 3.5 game lead in the NL East after the Braves lost to the Nationals.
The Mets and D-backs close out the season series on Wednesday afternoon at 3:40 p.m., with the game airing exclusively on YouTube.
David Peterson will face fellow lefty Madison Bumgarner.
(photo : Getty Images)