Mets hit into four double plays en route to 4-3 loss to Rockies

(Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

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Mets hit into four double plays en route to 4-3 loss to Rockies

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Mets hit into four double plays en route to 4-3 loss to Rockies

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Mets hit into four double plays en route to 4-3 loss to Rockies

(Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

The Mets dropped the series opener against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on Friday night by a score of 4-3.

Here are the takeaways...

-- After putting up 10 runs the night before to break out of a long, team-wide slump, New York's offense went right back to sleep against Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen, who entered the game with a 7.48 ERA. Lorenzen held the Mets to just one run through seven innings, maneuvering around seven hits by keeping the ball on the ground and getting New York to hit into three double plays.

The first double play of the night at least brought home a run when Brett Baty scored following Marcus Semien's double play grounder in the second inning to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Still, the inning started out promisingly after Baty doubled to lead off, followed by Mark Vientos' infield single. With two outs and nobody on, the inning continued with a Carson Benge single and Tyrone Taylor reaching on an error, but Ronny Mauricio grounded out to end the threat.

New York would threaten again in the fifth after back-to-back, one-out singles by Taylor and Mauricio, but Bo Bichette's double play grounder on the first pitch got Lorenzen through the frame unscathed. Juan Soto then began the sixth with a well-struck single but was erased on a double play by Francisco Alvarez.

-- Opposite Lorenzen was Freddy Peralta, who was looking to get back on track after losing his previous two starts. Staked to the early 1-0 lead and nothing else, the right-hander made it stick for the first four innings, getting some help from his defense in the fourth after Benge made a diving catch in left field after running a long way.

Striking out six through four innings, Peralta had things working early, but he loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and allowed Colorado to tie the game on a weak groundout. Things unraveled further for Peralta in the sixth after a walk and a single brought up Jake McCarthy, who doubled in a run to give the Rockies the lead.

After striking out Brenton Doyle, Peralta's night was done. His final line: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K on 95 pitches (67 strikes). His ERA dropped to 3.90.

-- With runners on second and third, Sean Manaea entered the game and struck out Mickey Moniak to keep the Mets' deficit at one. He wasn't so lucky in the seventh, though, getting into trouble and surrendering a two-run single to Troy Johnston. Manaea pitched 3.1 innings, allowed two earned runs on three hits, a walk and a HBP while striking out seven.

-- With Lorenzen out of the game, New York was finally able to capitalize with runners in scoring position. The inning began with singles from Mauricio and Bichette and after a lineout by Soto, Alvarez singled to load the bases. Baty followed with another single to score two and get the Mets to within a run.

Just as New York was getting a rally going, Vientos stepped up to the plate and, as luck would have it, lined into an unassisted double play for the Mets' fourth double play of the game. The ball Vientos hit had an exit velocity of 107.7 mph, but was hit directly at the second baseman, who doubled off pinch-runner Tommy Pham, who had no chance of getting back to the base.

New York went down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning.

Game MVP: Michael Lorenzen

The right-hander got the win after pitching seven terrific innings.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets and Rockies continue their three-game series on Saturday with first pitch set for 4:10 p.m. on SNY.

RHP Kodai Senga (0-3, 8.83 ERA) will face former Met LHP Jose Quintana (0-2, 6.23 ERA).