PITTSBURGH — Eric Orze made for a great story this weekend when the Mets called up the two-time cancer survivor to make his big league debut in Pittsburgh.
But the ending was one he and the Mets would probably both like to rewrite.
Orze (0-1) was charged with the loss Monday afternoon in his first major league appearance, giving up three earned runs in a 8-2 defeat by the Pirates at PNC Park. The two teams split the four-game series and the Mets finished an eight-game road trip with a 4-4 record, falling to one game under .500 (44-45).
“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” Orze said. “Obviously, it didn’t go the way I wanted, but I felt confident, felt good. I’m happy to get the first one out of the way and I can go forward from here.”
A five-run sixth inning doomed the Mets. The bullpen imploded once again, as it had in the previous losses on the two-city trip through Washington and Pittsburgh. If the Mets are looking for anything to take away from this pre-All-Star swing, it’s that the bullpen badly needs to be fixed.
“There were some games that have gotten away from us, but you know what? I mean, honestly, that’s the story of the year so far,” said outfielder Brandon Nimmo. “We haven’t been able to lock down wins all the time, and that’s a problem. But we’re hoping to address it, we’re hoping to continue to get better at it and we know that we went on a streak there where, you know, we did a lot better…
“So we know it’s in there, but it’s a problem. No question.”
Right-handed rookie Christian Scott was cruising in the sixth inning when the Mets relieved him for Orze. The game was tied 2-2 after Scott allowed a two-run homer to Oneil Cruz in the fourth and Nimmo hit one of his own in the top of the sixth off right-hander Mitch Keller.
Scott got two easy outs in the bottom of the sixth, but with the organization trying to manage his innings, he was pulled with two outs and no one base after throwing only 77 pitches.
The decision to go to Orze in that spot was questionable and ultimately proved to be controversial. Pitching on regular rest for the first time as a major leaguer, the Mets had Scott on a 75-pitch limit and were not going to deviate from the plan, so they got Orze ready in the top of the inning.
Ultimately, sticking to their plan cost them a win.
“This kid is too important,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Obviously, we’ve got to protect him, especially after he threw 99 pitches his last time out, going on regular rest this time for the first time in his career, and then going again his next time through on regular rest.”
Scott was made aware of his pitch limit over the weekend. He didn’t have a problem with it.
“I really trust their process,” Scott said. “My whole career here, they’ve done great for me.”
With switch-hitter Bryan Reynolds due up followed by left-handed hitters Cruz and Rowdy Tellez, the Mets called on Orze to face the heaviest part of the Pirates’ lineup. The team had previously identified that spot as one that could be good for him because of how he uses his splitter against lefties.
Orze jogged in from the bullpen as his family watched from the stands. They made the drive from the Chicago area over the weekend after the Mets called him up from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night.
The 26-year-old realized a dream, but it quickly turned into a nightmare.
Reynolds walked on seven pitches — all splitters — and Cruz battled him for seven pitches before lining a single to left. With runners on the corners, Tellez sent a weak grounder to Mark Vientos at third base, who made a diving stop, but couldn’t get the out in time. Reynolds scored to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead and the Mets decided they had seen enough of Orze.
“Off the bat, you see we contact and you’re hoping to get him out,” Orze said. “It just found a little hole. Nothing we can do about it. So, like I said, executed some pitches and some just didn’t go my way.”
Adrian Houser replaced him and the inning continued to devolve. The right-hander gave up a two-run double to Nick Gonzales and right fielder Jeff McNeil bobbled the ball, allowing Cruz and Tellez to score and Gonzales to reach third. He then scored easily on a wild pitch, upping Pittsburgh’s lead to 6-2.
Josh Palacios connected for his first homer of the season, making it 7-2.
Meanwhile, Keller went eight innings for the Pirates (43-47), holding the Mets to two earned runs on seven hits and striking out six in the win (10-5).
Scott went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on one hit, walking one and striking out three. The Mets left him in one batter too long his last time out in Washington, and lifted him one out too soon in Pittsburgh.
“We took our chances there with him to try to get that last out,” Mendoza said. “And it didn’t happen.”
