Collins Ejected, Mets Can't Back DeGrom In Front Of Smallest Crowd Of Season
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Jacob deGrom didn't get much help from his teammates — or the umpires, for that matter. And that's what led to an early exit for manager Terry Collins.
Jonathan Lucroy had three hits and Wily Peralta pitched into the seventh inning to send the Milwaukee Brewers past the slumping New York Mets 3-1 Wednesday night.
Still looking for his first career win, deGrom (0-3) was lifted in the sixth after throwing 80 of his 107 pitches for strikes. The shaggy-haired rookie has a 3.44 ERA following six mostly solid starts.
"One of these days we are going to get that big hit for him and he'll get that win," Collins said after his team's seventh loss in eight games.
Collins made it halfway through the latest defeat, ejected in the fifth for arguing a replay ruling. The attendance of 20,170 marked the smallest crowd at Citi Field this season — for the second consecutive night.
With the Mets trailing by two, Taylor Teagarden was called out on a bang-bang play at first base to open the bottom of the fifth. Collins challenged, and the crowd cheered when replays appeared to show Teagarden was safe by a hair.
But the call stood upon review, bringing a confounded Collins out of the dugout again.
"I don't know what to say," Collins said.
He gestured toward the big video board in center field and was given some leeway during the discussion before getting tossed by plate umpire Gary Cederstrom.
"Too hard for (them) to overturn, I guess," Teagarden said.
It was Collins' first ejection this season. Managers are not allowed to argue replay rulings.
"I knew when I left the dugout what was going to happen," Collins said. "Sometimes you have to have an answer."
Collins said umpires have suggested he visit Major League Baseball's replay center in Manhattan, and he said "now I think I will."
"I've seen closer plays than this one tonight overruled," he said. "I think the system works and it's been outstanding. Tonight, for whatever reason, whatever they say that I didn't see, it didn't get changed."
Lucroy doubled twice and drove in a run, raising his batting average to .341. Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura each had an RBI as the NL Central leaders wore down deGrom.
"They were really aggressive in that first inning," deGrom said. "Three bloop hits and to get out of that was good, but whenever you start out like that, in the back of your mind, you're like, it's going to be a rough night."
Peralta (6-5) used a 96-98 mph fastball and his nasty slider to hold scuffling David Wright and the punchless Mets to four hits in 6 1-3 innings. The right-hander won his second consecutive start following a four-game losing streak.
It was the second time Peralta has shut down the Mets. He beat them 3-0 with eight innings of two-hit ball at Miller Park on Sept. 16, 2012.
"This was a different animal tonight," Collins said. "We just didn't get many good balls to hit."
Will Smith worked a scoreless eighth and ex-Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez got three quick outs for his 20th save in 22 attempts.
With the score tied in the fourth, New York left fielder Curtis Granderson misplayed Aramis Ramirez's leadoff double. Segura tried to squeeze home a run with one out, but bunted foul. On the next pitch, he lined an RBI single to snap a 2-for-28 skid.
Lucroy's fifth-inning double sent Ryan Braun to third. He scored on Gomez's infield single to make it 3-1.
"My job is to keep us in the games," deGrom said. "I feel like the wins will take care of themselves, and I feel like it will happen here soon."
NOTES: Mets RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka is expected to make his next start after getting hit in the leg with a line drive during Tuesday night's win. Matsuzaka will remain in the rotation at least until RHP Dillon Gee (strained lat) returns, Collins said. ... Teagarden earned another start after hitting a grand slam in his Mets debut Tuesday. Anthony Recker will probably catch LHP Jonathon Niese on Thursday night, Collins said. ... The Mets said prized pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard was placed on the seven-day disabled list at Triple-A Las Vegas because the team needed to clear a roster spot. The right-hander was expected to go at least five-to-seven days without throwing anyway after spraining the AC joint in his left shoulder on a tag play at the plate last Thursday. The move was made retroactive to June 9 and Syndergaard is eligible to return Monday. ... New York signed 16 draft picks including its third-round selection, high school shortstop Milton Ramos from Florida. ... Brewers RHP Kyle Lohse (7-2, 3.27 ERA) faces Niese (3-3, 2.68) in the series finale. Lohse was riding a seven-game winning streak before getting hit hard in a 15-5 loss at Pittsburgh last Friday. He is 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA in three starts at Citi Field.
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