Series Recap: Mets Swept by Marlins

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins

Series Recap, May 5^th-May 7^th

May 5th	Mets 3	Marlins 4
May 6th	Mets 0	Marlins 3
May 7th	Mets 0	Marlins 1

Click here for Game 2 Recap

The New York Mets road trip came to a disastrous end, as they Miami Marlins swept them in the three-game series. The Mets fell under .500 for the first time since April 19^th, losing six of their last seven games as the Marlins pitching staff mowed down the Mets lineup every night. The Mets were unable to get anything going against a Marlins team that has been dominant at home with a 17-5 record. Here are some things to take away from the series.

-Positives

The Mets starting pitchers were able to bounce back after ugly performances against the Colorado Rockies in Denver. All three starters, Jon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Zack Wheeler, threw quality starts and lasted at least six innings. Niese continues to toss gem after gem for the Mets. Through six starts on the season, Niese owns a 1.82 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 39.2 innings. He has given up one or less earned runs in four start starts, yet disappointingly, he only has a 2-2 record to show for his efforts.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

David Wright was the only Met able to muster a hit in each of the three games in Miami. He went 4-12 with two doubles in the series, extending his hitting streak to six games. He was the only Met to give much production, but he is still performing under his career norms.

-Negatives

The Mets offense was anemic in Miami. They have not scored in 23 innings, as the Marlins pitching staff dominated after the first four innings of the series, and managed only 14 hits in three games. Nathan Eovaldi mowed down 10 Mets in the first game of the series, Henderson Alvarez followed that up with his third complete game shutout in his last five starts in Miami, and Tony Koehler tossed eight shutout innings in the series finale. Imagine what superstar Jose Fernandez would have done to this Mets lineup. 15+ strikeouts in a complete game shutout seems like a good baseline.

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

The Mets bullpen did not give their failing offense any help in the three games. In Game 1, the bullpen imploded in the eighth and ninth innings, giving up four runs and losing the game. Daisuke Matsuzaka was the culprit in Game 1, which was surprising to see after injuring his calf in Colorado. Sean Rice then finished off the implosion in the ninth inning. In the series finale, Carlos Torres was handed the loss after a sac fly by Marcel Ozuna scored Giancarlo Stanton.

Ruben Tejada and Omar Quintanilla both struggled once again. Tejada failed to get a hit once again, running his hitless streak to 14 at-bats. Quintanilla made a costly error in his one start, and it may have cost him his job. Quintanilla was on the chopping block and looks to have been designated for assignment with Wilmer Flores being called up to play shortstop for the Mets.