'Buckle Down' Time For Fading Mets With First-Place Nationals On Tap
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — David Wright knows there's still plenty of time to get back on track.
Pinch-hitter Matt Treanor had a two-run single in a five-run 12th inning and the stumbling Mets fell under .500 for the first time this season with an 8-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
"I don't think we're playing as poorly as the record indicates," Wright said, "but this is when we need to get things turned around and moving in the direction we need it to."
The Mets appeared headed in the right direction when they rallied from a 3-1 deficit to tie it in the ninth and put their first two runners on in the 10th. But they botched a sacrifice attempt and Ruben Tejada hit into a double play to end the inning. New York lost their ninth in 10 games to fall to 47-48.
"The frustrating thing is that we're not playing terrible," said Wright. "We're just having a bad inning here or there. But to compete with these teams and to compete in the National League we're going to have to play more complete games."
Afterward, the Mets tweeted they were going to call up top prospect Matt Harvey to start Thursday. They had been reluctant to rush to the majors their first-round pick of the 2010 draft despite several injuries to the starting rotation. As recently as Sunday morning, manager Terry Collins would only say Harvey was an option to make the start in Arizona.
But with the season fading fast and the NL East-leading Washington Nationals coming to town for three games starting Monday, the Mets have to try something to give the club a boost.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, won their fourth straight after losing seven of eight and dropping out of first place in the NL West.
An overworked Mets bullpen held the Dodgers to one hit for four innings until Los Angeles broke it open in the 12th with contributions from several late-inning replacements.
"They're going to be tired but we still got a couple of guys for (Monday)," Collins said of the bullpen.
James Loney led off the 12th off with a single against Ramon Ramirez (2-2). A defensive replacement in the eighth, Tony Gwynn Jr. bunted for a base hit, just beating the throw to first. Collins argued to no avail.
Mark Ellis popped up a bunt for the first out and Matt Kemp grounded into a fielder's choice that put runners on first and third. Andre Ethier, who drove in the Dodgers' third run, was intentionally walked to load the bases.
With two strikes, Treanor lined a single to center that scored two runs. Luis Cruz followed with an RBI single and Adam Kennedy, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the 11th, hit a long drive to right that Lucas Duda misjudged, and it fell for a two-run double to chase Ramirez.
The few fans remaining in the crowd of 31,184 mockingly cheered when Elvin Ramirez got the final out of the inning.
"We're certainly not happy with the way things have gone the last 10 days," Collins said, "so we've got to buckle down and get after it."
Josh Lindblom, Los Angeles' sixth reliever, finished the Dodgers' first three-game sweep in New York since August 2002.
Jonathon Niese became the first Mets starter in this series to go more than three innings. He lasted seven-plus and gave up a two-run homer to Juan Rivera in the fourth inning.
"Seeing where we were at the break it's definitely frustrating to see us below .500," said Niese. "But I still don't think we're out of it. I think we have a good chance to go on a run and get back in it."
NOTES: Treanor snapped an 0-for-23 skid Saturday. ... There was a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the shooting in Aurora, Colo. ... The Mets designated RHP Miguel Batista for assignment. ... Niese's at-bat in the third inning was the first plate appearance by a Mets starting pitcher in the series. He struck out. ... The Mets said "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi will be at Citi Field on Monday.
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