Riding high in April, shot down by the rare ace that can relegate Noah Syndergaard to second-tier status.
The Mets’ eight-game win streak came to an end in a 6-1 loss to the Giants on Sunday afternoon at a cold and rainy Citi Field, as Syndergaard stumbled with a season-worst outing in his highly anticipated duel with Madison Bumgarner.
While San Francisco’s southpaw threw six shutout innings, Syndergaard (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing a season-high four runs and recording a season-low six strikeouts, while surrendering five hits, two walks and three stolen bases in a season-low 5 ²/₃ innings.
“It was kind of a disappointing start,” said Syndergaard, whose ERA rose from 1.69 to 2.51. “Last two starts I haven’t felt very comfortable on the mound mechanically. … It’s just something that hasn’t been there the last two starts. … I think my mechanics are good when I’m out there, then when I go back and look at it I’m not really doing the exact job that I should be doing and that’s the more frustrating part.”
After allowing three runs to Cincinnati in his previous outing — Syndergaard’s first start of the season allowing more than one run — the 23-year-old held San Francisco scoreless through the first three innings, but then allowed three hits in a three-run fourth inning, which was highlighted by a Hunter Pence two-run rocket to right field off the right-hander’s 98-mph fastball. It was his first home run allowed this season.
Syndergaard was pulled in the sixth after letting runners reach the corners, taking the blame for another run after Hansel Robles gave up a single to Pence.
“It wasn’t, maybe, the best stuff, but I thought he battled,” catcher Kevin Plawecki said of the starter. “Just one of those days.”
Bumgarner (3-2) wasn’t overpowering, allowing six hits and three walks, but the former World Series MVP left each inning unscathed, recording seven strikeouts and leaving nine Mets stranded on base. Bumgarner is now 4-0 in five career starts against the Mets, boasting a 0.62 ERA all-time in Queens.
Neil Walker had two early chances to put the Mets in front, but the second baseman’s red-hot bat left two runners on base to end the first and third innings. Then, pinch-hitter Asdrubal Cabrera struck out on Bumgarner’s final pitch of the day, ending the sixth inning with the bases loaded.
“He doesn’t make mistakes, especially with guys in scoring position,” Walker said. “He knows he’s deceptive and if you beat him one way, you’re not gonna see that same sequence again. … He’s a bulldog on the mound. He’s unlike any other pitcher as far as how the ball comes out of his hand. He’s just a different type of pitcher.
“As many times as I’ve seen him in the past, when he’s at his best, he’s getting ahead strike one and he’s making you beat him with his best stuff. That’s why he’s one of the best in the game.
The Mets (15-8) finished the game with 24 runners left on base and whiffed on the chance to earn a third straight sweep, but they enter Monday’s three-game home series against the MLB-worst Braves unfazed by the rare loss against an even rarer opposing ace.
“We weren’t able to close it out, but you got a tough guy on the mound for them,” Mets captain David Wright said. “We had a couple chances, but it seems like the great ones bear down and they make good pitches when you put some runners out there.
“You always want to win, whether you’re on a winning streak or a losing streak, but as far as this homestand has gone, so far so good. The name of the game is going out there and trying to win series.’”