Mets Fall To Diamondbacks 3-2; Conforto Exits With Separated Shoulder
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Mets lost another game and arguably their offensive MVP on Thursday.
In a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, outfielder Michael Conforto dislocated his left shoulder while taking a hard swing.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Conforto crumpled to the ground after swinging at a 95 mph Robbie Ray pitch and immediately reached for his left shoulder. The team said shortly afterward that he dislocated the shoulder.
Watch video of the injury:
He left the game and was replaced by Brandon Nimmo.
The 24-year-old Conforto, an All-Star this season, entered the game batting .280 with 27 home runs and 68 RBIs.
"It turns your stomach," Collins said. "A player was having a tremendous year and really making a name for himself. To go down like that and that kind of injury is tough to watch."
The Mets have been a banged-up bunch all season. Already on the disabled list are pitchers Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, Seth Lugo and Jeurys Familia and infielders Matt Harvey, Jose Reyes and T.J. Rivera. On Thursday, the team announced that Familia will be activated Friday, but also that Wheeler has been shut down for the rest of the season.
Arizona won three of four in New York, staying ahead of Colorado for the NL's top wild-card spot with the victory.
"I thought it was a really special day for us and we won a big series," manager Torey Lovullo said.
Pitching for the first time since being hit in the head with a line drive last month, Ray struck out nine batters in five innings.
"Very thankful that I didn't get hurt any more than I did and I'm just glad to be back out there," Ray said.
Reinstated from the DL prior to the game, Ray (10-5) allowed one run and two hits. The All-Star left-hander struck out the side in the first and held the Mets hitless for three innings. He is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in four starts against the Mets.
"It's good to have Robbie back. There's that old familiar feeling that he was giving every one of us, just pounding the zone," Lovullo said. "We really loved everything that he did. We welcome him back with open arms."
Yoenis Cespedes led off the fourth with his 17th home run, a drive that traveled 440 feet into the second deck in left.
Fernando Rodney stranded two runners in the ninth for his 30th save and third in this series.
Rafael Montero (2-9) allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings for the Mets.
A defensive lapse cost New York with one out in the fifth inning, as Ray put down a sacrifice bunt attempt toward the left side. Third baseman Wilmer Flores failed to charge the ball and by the time he threw across the diamond the pitcher was safe, loading the bases after a video review overturned an initial out call.
Gregor Blanco and Ketel Marte followed with an RBI single and sacrifice fly, giving the Diamondbacks a 2-1 lead.
Brandon Drury singled to right in the sixth, chasing Montero with a soft flare that scored Paul Goldschmidt for Arizona's third run.
The Mets cut it to 3-2 on Nimmo's RBI groundout in the seventh.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
