Mets waste chances in loss to Rockies
The Mets' Daniel Murphy, left, is tagged out at the plate by Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta during the seventh inning at Coors Field. (May 9, 2011) Credit: AP
DENVER -- Chris Capuano, like Chris Young, was considered a calculated risk when the Mets signed him during the winter. Some gambles, however, are better than others as Capuano took the mound Monday night only hours after Young was likely shut down for the season.
A veteran of two Tommy John operations, the last in 2008, Capuano made it through six innings for the fourth time in six starts this year. But Chris Iannetta's home run with one out in the seventh was the difference as the Mets stumbled to the Rockies, 2-1, at Coors Field.
In one day, the Mets suffered two losses, with the ramifications of Young's injury having a much greater impact -- and more than just every five days.
"It just gives you a sinking feeling in your stomach," Capuano said. "I know where his head must be at. I know he's down. He's such a great asset for this team. With all the meetings we've had, he's been a leader. There's no replacing him."
Capuano (2-4) allowed Dexter Fowler's two-out, RBI single in the fifth, and after Jason Bay tied the score on an infield error in the sixth, Iannetta smoked a line-drive homer that hooked inside the leftfield foul pole and barely cleared the wall in the seventh.
"It was a hanging breaking ball," Capuano said.
The Mets, with a timely hit or two, could easily have made Capuano the winner. They twice left the bases loaded, stranded 10 and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
The Mets threatened in the ninth when pinch hitter Willie Harris opened with a check-swing single off closer Huston Street. That snapped an 0-for-18 slump for Harris, but with Daniel Murphy at the plate, Harris attempted to steal second -- and was thrown out easily.
"I was trying to play the game," Harris said. "I was trying to get in scoring position for those guys. When you sit on the bench, you want to do something to help the team."
Knowing the Mets' problems scoring, Capuano was most disappointed with his performance at the plate. He struck out three times, once with the bases loaded to end the sixth.
"I felt like I had a chance to help myself," Capuano said. "We work on that stuff as a pitching staff. We don't want to be an automatic out."
As for Monday night, Capuano wasn't much different than the rest of the Mets' lineup -- and they didn't have to pitch.
