Brandon Sproat solid in debut, but Mets fall to Reds
Mets pitcher Brandon Sproat throws during the second inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Jeff Dean
CINCINNATI — There are few moral victories in baseball, particularly this late in the season, but as rookie Brandon Sproat went toe-to-toe with a nearly unhittable Hunter Greene on Sunday afternoon, there was little doubt that the Mets could leave Great American Ball Park with more than just a stinging loss.
The Reds were able to stave off a ninth-inning rally and the Mets dropped the rubber game of the series, 3-2, but Sproat became the third in their trio of pitching prospects who were thrown into the furnace and came out unsinged.
He allowed three runs and three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in six innings, including 51/3 innings of no-hit ball.
“I didn’t have my best stuff, but I went out there and competed for the team,” said Sproat, who was working without his best fastball. His favorite memory of the day will “probably be taking the mound in a big-league uniform for the Mets, knowing that I have guys behind me to support me and knowing I’ve got my family in the stands cheering for me.”
Sproat, 24, is only the second Mets pitcher since 1973 to carry a no-hitter that far into his major-league debut, joining Brian Bannister in 2006.
“Overall, a great performance,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I was very impressed . . . I think his ability to throw the secondary pitches for strikes when he was behind in the count [was pivotal]. The first batter of the game, [he throws] four balls and then he was able to get a ground ball and settle in there. But he had to pitch. He wasn’t just throwing.”
The problem? The Mets managed only three hits, two of them homers: Brett Baty hit a solo shot in the third to briefly put them up by one, and Juan Soto hit No. 38, a 393-foot blast off Tony Santillan in the ninth to draw them within one.
The Mets put the tying run on first after that as Pete Alonso reached on an error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz. Brandon Nimmo singled, moving pinch runner Luisangel Acuna into scoring position, but Starling Marte hit into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Still, the Mets’ very precarious rotation seems, at least for now, a lot less wobbly. Nolan McLean has dominated, Jonah Tong — despite a hiccup on Saturday — has shown serious mettle, and Sproat more than held his own, control issues notwithstanding.
With McLean scheduled to pitch Monday in Philadelphia, this will be the first time in franchise history that the Mets have started three straight pitchers with four or fewer major-league appearances, according to Elias. Rotational injuries and ineffectiveness also mean that they’re doing it while trying to save this season.
“It’s encouraging, but we need the other guys to step up,” Mendoza said. “We need everyone here, not only the young guys. We’re counting on Sean Manaea, we’re counting on Clay Holmes and [David] Peterson and everyone in the rotation. But it’s good to see those kids coming up here and give us a chance to win those baseball games.”
Greene, meanwhile, was nothing less than filthy. The hard-throwing ace averaged 100.2 mph on his fastball and struck out six of the first seven batters he faced. He allowed one run and one hit with two walks and 12 strikeouts in seven innings against a punchless Mets offense.
Greene’s only misstep came courtesy of Baty in the third.
Baty — who made a nice defensive stop in the first to kick off a double play and another nice snag on a 106.7-mph liner in the second — made an even louder declaration that inning, pulling a first-pitch slider 381 feet to right for a home run and a 1-0 lead.
The Reds tied it in the fourth without a hit. Noelvi Marte worked a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Austin Hays’ sacrifice fly to center.
The Reds broke through for two more runs against Sproat in the sixth. Marte snapped the no-hitter with a one-out single and De La Cruz hit a laser to the gap in right-center for a go-ahead RBI double. He moved to third on the throw and scored on Hays’ single.
When Sproat finally exited at the end of the sixth, the large contingent of friends and family behind the dugout cheered him.
“When I came out, I just looked around and just soaked it all in,” Sproat said. “There was one point in the sixth when I heard my mom. I know that voice from anywhere. I’m super-blessed for them to be able to make it. They’ve been my backbone since Day One.”
As for the game ball: “I’m going to give it to my parents to take home. That way, I don’t lose it.”
Notes & quotes: Tylor Megill (elbow) labored through his rehab appearance with Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, allowing five runs and four hits with two walks, three strikeouts and two hit batsmen in two innings.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
