Mets drown in a sea of Reds

The Mets struggled continued Friday night at Citi Field with a 3-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Fernando Nieve turned in a strong effort with 6 IP, 3 ER, and 6 K in losing his 3rd straight start (3-3, 3.03 ERA), but surrendered home runs to Joey Votto in the 4th and Laynce Nix in the 6th that were the difference for Cincinnati.

The Mets gave up the second run in the 4th inning after Brandon Phillips was caught in a pickle between home and third, and David Wright made an errant throw home that enabled Phillips to score. The play was somehow inexplicably not ruled a throwing error on Wright, and it was instead a stolen base for Phillips. 

New York's offense was only able to muster four hits off of Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, who went the distance for a complete game shutout to improve to 9-8 on the year. Arroyo had five 1, 2, 3 innings in taking down a Mets lineup that would have trouble winning AAA games with their lack of offensive firepower. Daniel Murphy continued his better hitting with two hits on the night, and the other two hits came on a single by Fernando Nieve in the 3rd and a bunt single by Argenis Reyes in the 6th. Angel Pagan was 0/4 in his first game with the Mets since May 31.

Tidbits

Only three of the nine players in the Mets lineup were in the starting lineup when these two teams took the field for Opening Day at Great American Ball Park on April 6th, Wright, Murphy, and Schneider.

The Mets made a pitcher who gave up 21 ER in his last three outings look like a Cy Young winner. 

Arroyo also beat the Mets back on April 9th (6 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 4 K), and improved to 5-1 against the Amazins in his career, including 3-1 with an ERA under two at New York.

This is the third time in the last five games the Mets were shut out.

The Mets failed to advance a runner past first base.

Johan Santana makes his last start of the first half tomorrow, coming off a 7 IP, 2 ER performance against the Phillies in which he was flawless other than the homeruns he gave up to Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.

Johnny Cueto goes for the Reds, and he gave up more runs in two-thirds of an inning in his last start in Philadelphia (9) than the Mets have scored in their last seven games.

Jeff Francoeur will make his Mets debut tomorrow night.