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The New York Mets wasted 10 hits by grounding into three double-plays, the heart of the batting order stranded the bases loaded and the bullpen reverted to its early-season ways Saturday night as the Mets lost to the Cincinnati Reds 7-2.
Starter Oliver Perez wasn’t stellar, but he pitched decent enough to give his team a chance. He lasted six innings, striking out six batters while giving up six hits, three walks and three runs (two of them earned).
The Mets, down 3-2 in the seventh, rallied to load the bases, but the effort came to an abrupt halt when David Wright and Carlos Beltran each struck out looking. The Reds responded in the bottom half of the seventh by beating up on the Mets’ bullpen with four runs to put the game away.
Perez lost his no-hitter in the first inning when Jeff Keppinger singled to left center to bump our count to 7,418 Mets games without a no-hitter.
It was the Mets’ second straight loss after winning the previous 10 games. Fortunately the Phillies lost to the Marlins, so the Mets remain a game back in the National League East.
