Mets Stumble as Szapucki Struggles

GIANTS 9 - METS 3

The Mets knew that life without both Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom wouldn't be easy, and Wednesday's matinee in San Francisco was no exception.

Making his season debut, Toms River native Thomas Szapucki struggled to slow down a San Francisco offense that posted 13 runs the night before, allowing nine runs in just an inning and a third on Wednesday.

It was the shortest outing by a Mets starter this season.

Szapucki served up four home runs, including two to Evan Longoria. Longoria had a huge afternoon, batting 2-for-4 with four RBI. Mike Yastrzemski also homered, as did Joc Pederson, who just the night before, blasted three home runs against the Mets in that wild 13-12 Giants' victory.

Before Szapucki knew it he was down 9-0 and was out of the game after just 49 pitches.

The Mets offense, which had caught fire in recent days, was mostly silent on Wednesday.  Brandon Nimmo had a ground out RBI in the top of the third inning. He would later triple and scored on Starling Marte's ground out to shortstop. Francisco Lindor hit his eighth homer of the year in the sixth inning.

The loss completes the first leg of two large west coast trips for the Mets. Between Colorado and San Francisco, the Mets went 3-3. In two weeks they will have a 10-game trip out west that figures to be even tougher against the LA Dodgers, LA Angles and San Diego Padres.

The Mets return to action on Friday night when they open up a six-game home stand against the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals. The pitching strapped Mets will turn to Carlos Carrasco on Friday night at Citi Field.