Game #87
W: Niese (5-8)
L: De La Rosa (6-5)
SV: Famillia (27)
Unfortunately, any kind of momentum that the Arizona Diamondbacks gained by sweeping the Texas Rangers and getting back to the .500 mark is now gone after the Dbacks were swept by the surging New York Mets at Citi Field.
On Sunday, the long ball haunted the Snakes and Rubby De La Rosa again. Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit 3 home runs in what was a career day for him in the Mets 5-3 victory over the Dbacks to end the seasons first half.
Nieuwenhuis came into the game hitting .091 and all he did Sunday was single handedly beat the Diamondbacks while driving in 4 runs. In 14 career games against the Dbacks he is now hitting .258.
Nieuwenhuis, a left-handed batter hit solo shots in the 2nd and 5th innings, and added a 2 run shot in the 3rd. Another lefty second basemen Daniel Murphy also homered.
Jul 12, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis (9) watches the ball go into the stands in right field for a home run in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Lefties came into the game hitting .298 off De La Rosa, and the damage done by Nieuwenhuis and Murphy made Mets manager Terry Collins look like a genius.
De La Rosa was looking solid throwing first pitch strikes until the 3rd when the game went from tied at 1 to 4-1 just like that after 2 homers. When Rubby looses control of a game he really looses it and Sundays game was another example.
De La Rosa has left far to many pitches belt high and up in the strike zone and when he misses he misses his spot by a mile, and he has payed the price. He has now allowed 21 home runs this season which is the 3rd most in the majors.
Nieuwenhuis made history today becoming just the 10th Mets player to homer in a game 3 times and the 1st to do it at home.
Mets starter Jon Niese got 9 ground balls and allowed just 3 hits picking up a win heading into the break. He had a career 6.29 ERA against Arizona coming in.
Goldschmidt did break a homer less streak hitting his 21st today but he came in today hitting just .235 in the month of July.
The Dbacks came into the game having allowed 23 home runs since June 23rd the most in the majors, and Snakes starters are tied with the Rockies for the 3rd most homers allowed in baseball with 70.
In this series all of the Mets runs scored on the long ball, and the last 15 runs scored by this team have come via the homer.
The Diamondbacks would have liked to have a better result to end the 1st half, but nonetheless at 42-45 heading into the break there is a lot to be excited about and this team is competing.
Losing a series to the Mets a great home team at Citi Field is not that surprising especially when Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey pitch back to back days and have two of the best K/BB ratios at home in baseball.
A.J. Pollock and Goldschmidt are heading to Cincinnati for this weeks all star festivities and the rest of the players are going their separate ways.
Next Game: The second half begins next Friday against the Giants at Chase Field with LHP Robbie Ray getting the start for Arizona. The Giants have yet to name a starter.