Here is a list of facts that show you the theme of the New York Mets ugly 14-4 loss:
- They had the same amount of runs as errors
- The Chicago Cubs scored 14 runs in three innings
- Luis Guillorme pitched an inning
The Mets just keep hurting themselves in the field. This reel is from the last two innings alone… pic.twitter.com/xZyjC90hmw
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 22, 2021
David Peterson and the Mets had a similar start as Taijuan Walker did the previous night. Peterson kept the Cubs hitless for 3.1 innings, but things quickly unraveled in the fourth. The Cubs pushed across seven runs on six hits, with only one reaching an exit velocity of 90 mph or better. It continued to a three-run fifth, and Javier Baez’s grand slam capped off the middle inning outburst to put the Mets away for the rest of the night. Four different Mets made errors on the night, and J.D. Davis made his third in the last two games.
The Mets came into the season understanding their defensive flaws, but it is becoming worse than they could have imagined. Clearly, Davis is not an everyday third baseman with the glove, and it is becoming to defend playing him there every day. His errors show up on the box score, but simple plays become tall tasks for Davis. Unless he puts up MVP caliber numbers, there is no reason to continue to keep Guillorme sitting on the bench while the defense continues to suffer.
Defense Wins Championships
This team is way too talented for a lack of defense to separate them from winning the division. With the season still early and fresh, these losses are not the end of the world. They are certainly disappointing and disheartening, but the next day’s performance determines how bad it stings. If manager Luis Rojas adjusts the lineups and the team responds accordingly, it turns into just another loss. The final game of the series will show the early character of this team.
Offensively, the Mets saw encouraging signs from Francisco Lindor, who had three hits, including his first Mets home run. Davis’s bat continues to be the only thing keeping him in the lineup as he recorded two hits, including an RBI. Pete Alonso’s two-run home run was the last of the scoring and his third of the season.
The Mets look to flush this ugly loss away and avoid the sweep in Thursday’s game. Joey Lucchesi takes the mound against Trevor Williams for a 7:40 p.m. ET start from Wrigley Field.