Mets waste deGrom's gem in 2-1 loss to Marlins
New York falls to 17-2 when leading after eight
By Michael Avallone | May 23, 2018 | 10:08PM

Jeurys Familia could not protect a 1-0 lead in the ninth as the Mets dropped their second straight to the Marlins, 2-1, on Wednesday night at Citi Field.
For a full box score of the game, click here.
Things you should know about tonight's game...
1) Familia (2-2) allowed four hits and two runs in the ninth inning to blow his fourth save in 17 opportunities. JT Realmuto tied the game with a single, but Michael Conforto temporarily kept it that way by throwing out Derek Dietrich at the plate for the second out. Following an intentional walk to Justin Bour, Starlin Castro singled to bring in Realmuto with the tie-breaking run.
2) DeGrom allowed four hits, two walks and hit two batters while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings to lower his National League-leading ERA to 1.54. He has surrendered one run while fanning 47 in his last 33 1/3 innings (0.27 ERA) spanning six starts. New York fell to 5-5 in his 10 starts this season, during which the bullpen has posted a 7.55 ERA.
3) Brandon Nimmo hit a solo homer, singled and walked in four plate appearances. Wilmer Flores grounded out with a runner at second in the ninth to end the game.
Michael Avallone, SNY.tv | Twitter |
Inexcusable.
If I could get away with writing just a one-word reaction, that would be it. Jeurys Familia clearly didn't have it tonight. There's never a good time to blow a save, but the Mets' closer is making a habit of wasting Jacob deGrom starts, which is a shame and disheartening. That being said, if you're looking for a diatribe against the Mets' closer ... look elsewhere. Yes, he blew the lead, deGrom's win and the game. But the real issue is a pathetic offense that shows no signs whatsoever of kicking it into gear. New York tallied four runs in 27 innings against Miami -- four runs.
FOUR.
The offense is a disgrace. Without Yoenis Cespedes and Todd Frazier, it's punchless thanks to the ineptitude of almost everyone not named Asdrubal Cabrera. Worse yet, there doesn't appear to be an end in sight and there isn't a fix coming from outside the organization. Unless, of course, the Mets decide to promote Peter Alonso from Double-A Binghamton and he defies the odds to be a difference maker. What New York is left with is an unathletic, one-dimensional, homer-hitting team that isn't even doing that.
It's not a recipe for success and it's truly a shame when it costs pitchers like deGrom wins. Sadly, the margin for error is so little for these pitchers, more frustration than necessary is probably on the way.
Highlights from tonight's game...
Video: Nimmo gets the Mets on the board in the fifth
Video: Gonzalez makes nice stop, beats Brinson for the out
Video: Conforto's throw nabs the runner at home plate
News and notes...
The Mets dropped their second straight and finished the homestand, 5-3. The Marlins have won three of their last four series at Citi Field dating back to the start of last season.
New York scored four runs in the three games and two over the final 19 innings of the series.
DeGrom has allowed one or no runs 53 times in 117 career starts. The right-hander has held opponents to a .108 average with runners in scoring position this year, including an 0-for-22 mark in his last six starts. The blown save extended deGrom's winless streak against the Marlins to six games dating back to July 6, 2016.
Three of Familia's four blown saves in 2018 have come during deGrom's starts.
Seth Lugo extended his career-best scoreless streak to 15 consecutive innings.
Mets pitching has struck out nine or more batters in eight straight games, which ties a club record set from July 24-31, 2016.
What's next...
The Mets (24-21) head out on an eight games-in-seven days road trip that begins at Miller Park against the N.L. Central-leading Brewers (31-19) on Thursday night at 8 p.m. on SNY.
Steven Matz (1-3, 4.42 ERA, 36 Ks, 1.31 WHIP) kicks off the four-game series after another abbreviated start last Saturday. The 26-year-old surrendered a pair of homers and left trailing after allowing four runs in four innings against the Diamondbacks. He has completed six innings once in his first eight starts and has pitched four or fewer innings four times. Matz is 2-1 with a 4.42 ERA in three career starts against the Brewers. He yielded four runs -- three earned -- in 5 1/3 innings to defeat Milwaukee on April 13 at Citi Field.
Zach Davies (2-3, 4.24 ERA, 25 Ks, 1.27 WHIP) is scheduled to come off the disabled list to make his first start since April 29. The right-hander carried a 6.84 ERA after three starts, but rebounded to allow four runs across 18 innings (2.00 ERA) in his next three appearances before experiencing shoulder soreness. Davies was charged with five runs over 4 1/3 innings in a matchup with Matz and the Mets earlier this season. He is 2-1 with a 5.26 ERA in five career starts against New York.