New York Mets beaten 4-5 by Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park - MLB Update
Relief pitcher Jon Rauch gives up a tie-breaking run in the eighth inning as the New York Mets lose to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of the three match series at PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 21, 2012.
A tight game, which was out-and-out panning out in favour of the Mets, suddenly took a surprise turn. As the Mets rose to a four run lead in the second, starter Johan Santana was left with the task to maintain status quo for as long as he can.
Managing such an overwhelming lead meant that the Mets will record an easy victory.
However as Santana prolonged time on the mound, in the process, his control derailed. The Pirates capitalised right away and fetched four runs from his pitches. As a result, lead was blown and score was tied.
As penultimate innings approached, the Mets grew impatient for adding a tie-breaking run.
While no run came off from the Mets, the Pirates made most of their momentum and surged to one run lead before the start of the ninth inning.
The Pirates cannot take the whole credit for the tie-breaking run. The fact Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Mike Baxter made a mess of their play, had they been perfect, the Pirates will not have completed the run.
Therefore, loss that the Mets’ reliever Rauch was accorded in the game was not a result of his fault entirely.
Mets’ manager Terry Collins has another explanation regarding lack of co-ordination between Nieuwenhuis and Baxter in the field. Noise was deafening and that marred their communication, he maintained.
''You're out there and there's a lot of noise, Mike is calling for it, Kirk is calling for it and they can't hear each other,'' Terry Collins said. ''But once the center fielder calls it, it's his ball. Somehow Mike has to know the center fielder is coming.
We've just got to catch the ball there.''
Following a series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays earlier, the Mets will make sure, it will not repeat.
Even after the loss the Mets will have their morale high. The fact they did a fairly good job by and large and only a little fall in momentum late in the innings cost them, they will be looking to win next two games and clinch the exciting series.
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