E-Rod and E's Stymire Mets in Road Trip Finale

Diamondbacks 5 Mets 1 (Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ)

Mets record: 15-25

Mets streak: Lost 2

WP -Eduardo Rodriguez (4-0)

LP-Huascar Brazoban (2-1)

Seat on the Korner: Eduardo Rodriguez

We select a Star of the Game and virtually invite him to take his Seat on the Korner — just as Ralph Kiner did on WOR-TV Channel 9 during the early days of the New York Mets.

Continuing the tradition of Rheingold Beer sponsoring Kiner’s Korner, this season every seat is proudly presented by The Main Event Restaurant & Sports Bar.

With locations in Plainview and Farmingdale, The Main Event features 80+ HD TVs, fresh daily seafood, and Black Angus certified steaks—so you never have to choose between great food and the big game.

Eduardo Rodriguez earns the seat next to Ralph thanks to one of the best games of his career. Coming into this season, Rodriguez had a 6.23 ERA against the Mets but after beating the Mets with a strong effort (1 ER in 6 IP, 5H, 2 BB, 3K) at Citifield on April 9th, he was even better in this one. Rodriguez gave up one run on 4 hits in 8.1 IP, the longest outing he's ever gone in the Major Leagues and lowered his season ERA to 2.27. Rodriguez went 2-0 against the Mets this season and lowered his career ERA against them to 4.00.

Need to Know

• Mets lost a series in Arizona for the first time since 5/31-6/2, 2019.

• Mets dropped the final two games and finished 5-4 on the nine game road trip.

• David Peterson gave up three unearned runs in five solid innings out of the pen and now has a 1.69 ERA (3 ER in 16 IP) as a reliever. Peterson has posted an 8.10 (21 ER in 23.1 IP) as a starter.

• Huascar Brazoban made his fifth career appearance as an opener, all with the Mets. Brazoban gave up his first two runs starting a game and now has a 3.00 ERA (2 ER in 6+ IP) as an opener.

• Luis Torrens snapped a 1 for 23 slump with an RBI double in the 6th. The Mets catcher added another hit in the 8th.

Turning Point

The Mets made three errors in a game for the first time this season. It was the third miscue that became the turning point because it enabled the Diamondbacks to expand their lead with three unearned runs. The Mets had just scored a run in the top of the 6th to make it a one run deficit but 3B Andy Ibanez made his second throwing error of the game to allow the leadoff batter, Ildemaro Vargas to reach. After David Peterson retired the next two batters, Jorge Barrosa singled to put runners on first and second. Ryan Waldschmidt blooped a single to center in front a diving Tyrone Taylor to score Vargas to make it a 3-1 game. Ketel Marte then tripled down the right field to score two more and the Diamondbacks had a 5-1 advantage.

Three Keys

Offense Continues to Struggle

In the three game series in Arizona, the Mets scored 5 runs on 12 hits. In six games as the leadoff batter, Juan Soto is 2 for 21 (.093) and is 2 for his last 27 overall. Bo Bichette is 2 for his last 22 (.091).

On a more positive note, Carson Benge had the Mets first hit in the sixth and had some good at bats against a tough lefthander. There should be no reason why Benge, who has been stellar defensively, should not be in the lineup every day, no matter if it's a lefty or a righty pitcher.

Mistakes That Don't Show Up in the Boxscore

After a scoreless first inning, Huascar Brazoban came out for a second inning and walked the leadoff batter, Ildemaro Vargas. Vargas took off early trying to steal second but Brazoban had him picked off. 1B Mark Vientos made a poor throw to second to allow Vargas to reach, a key mistake that would comeback to haunt the Mets in that inning. Nolan Arenado walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out, so Tobias Myers relieved Brazoban. After former Met James McCann laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third, Myers struck out Jorge Barrosa for the second out but Ryan Waldschmidt lined a ball to the gap in left center field to score two runs. The failure to throw out Vargas on the attempted steal ended up costing the Mets two runs.

With two on and two out in the top of the sixth, Austin Slater bounced one off of home plate that he thought was foul and did not run it out. Slater realized too late that it was a fair ball and he was tagged out by Arizona 1B Ildemaro Vargas.

Injury Update

A.J. MInter threw a bullpen session on Saturday for the first time since he paused his rehab assignment. Minter experienced left hip discomfort earlier in the week but said he felt fine after Saturday's session. Minter is rehabbing from off season surgery for a lat strain.

Jorge Polanco is no closer to returning to the lineup. A day after he went through baseball activity and took BP from the right side, Polanco is still feeling chronic pain from achilles bursitis.

Luis Robert Jr. continues to receive treatment in New York for his lumbar spine disc herniation. Before the game, Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza was asked if he thought the injury can be a long term problem. Mendoza said, "We don't know. Wait 'til we get back to New York, see it in person and see what we got here."