Carlos Carrasco shelled again as Mets can't sweep Marlins

Oct 21, 2023

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Whether the problem is due to a 36-year-old arm or the new faster pace of the game, one thing is clear: The Mets have an issue with Carlos Carrasco.

The right-hander had another miserable outing in Sunday's 7-2 loss to Miami at Citi Field, which prevented the Mets from completing a three-game sweep over their hapless NL East foes.

After Carrasco allowed five runs in four-plus innings in Milwaukee in his first start of the season, he gave up two costly homers and was again unable to get out of the fifth inning.

The right-hander's velocity remained down, but both Carrasco and Buck Showalter said the bigger issue was a lack of command of his splitter.

"That's one of the main pitches I have and I’m trying to find the delivery slot to throw it more, but it's not there," Carrasco said. "It's disappointing. I have to try to get it back because I really need it."

And the Mets really need Carrasco.

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While he bemoaned his splitter and its lack of variance from his four-seamer, it was a pair of hanging sliders that really did in Carrasco.

The first resulted in a long three-run shot to left by Bryan De La Cruz with one out in the top of the first, as Carrasco grooved an 0-2 pitch.

And Garrett Cooper got him on another poorly executed slider for a two-run blast in the fifth, as Carrasco gave up six runs in 4 ²/₃ innings.

"I was hoping he would settle in there after the first inning,’’ Showalter said. "It's uncharacteristic of him to throw two hanging sliders."

The four-seam fastball, which averaged 93.2 mph a year ago, remained at a 91.3 mph average on Sunday.

"I’m not worried about velocity right now," Carrasco said. "I feel really good [physically]."

After acknowledging issues with the pitch clock following his first outing, Carrasco said it wasn't much of an issue for him on Sunday.

"I just need to go out there and pitch," Carrasco said.

Even after Carrasco's rough first inning, the Mets had a chance to get back into the game in the bottom of the inning.

Facing lefty Braxton Garrett, who was making his first start of the season, Starling Marte laced a double to left with one out and then swiped third with Francisco Lindor at the plate.

On the play, Marte dove headfirst into Jean Segura's knee and was eventually removed from the game.

First, though, he was stranded at third when Lindor and Pete Alonso struck out and Showalter said the inability to put the ball in play is what helped cost them.

So did going 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

The Mets threatened in the bottom of the second, as Mark Canha led off with a single and Jeff McNeil followed by ripping a double to right.

The slumping Eduardo Escobar struck out.

Francisco Alvarez, in his first major league at-bat of the year, came through with an RBI single to right on a 1-2 count to make it 3-1.

But with runners on the corners, Tim Locastro whiffed and Tommy Pham grounded out.

Carrasco briefly rebounded after the De La Cruz homer to retire the next eight batters before a leadoff walk to De La Cruz in the fourth.

The Mets left two more on without a run in the fourth and left the bases loaded in the fifth.

Carrasco couldn't escape more damage in the fifth, with a Jazz Chisholm Jr. run-scoring single followed by Cooper's homer, which left the Mets down 6-1.

The Mets got a run back in the bottom of the inning, with Alonso continuing his hot hitting against Miami. He drove in Luis Guillorme — who replaced Marte — with a two-out single.

After loading the bases, the Mets saw Escobar ground out to end the threat.

Stephen Nogosek did well to preserve the Mets’ bullpen, coming in for Carrasco in the fifth and delivering 3 ¹/₃ innings of solid relief.