Mets Lose to Rays 12-5 due to bullpen struggles

Mets reliever RHP Drew Smith (Credits to Mary Holt-USA Today Sports) The New York Mets lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 12-5 this afternoon at Tropicana Field for their second consecutive loss and dropped their record 18-15. Reliever RHP Drew Smith started the game as an "opener" and did a nice job one unearned run in two innings on two hits with no walks and three strikeouts. LHP Joey Luchessi followed with a scoreless bottom of the third, but it all fell apart for him in the bottom of the fourth. Luchessi gave up a lead-off walk to 1B Yandy Diaz and then a double to 3B Joey Wendle. Luchessi's struggles continued after he gave up an infield hit to RF Manuel Margot and then a two-run double to SS Willy Adames. He was able to settle down and retired catcher Mike Zuzino on a foul out to first and then struck out CF Brandon Phillips and was thane taken out. RHP Sean Reid-Foley came in and gave up a pinch-hit double to Austin Meadows and a RBI single to the following hitter DH Randy Arozarena. Reid Foley didn't gave up any more in the inning and stayed in for the bottom of the fifth and threw a scoreless inning. RHP Tommy Hunter followed and threw two scoreless innings in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings. RHP Jacob Barnes came on in the bottom of the eighth and gave up back-to-back singles to Meadows and Arozarena and then walked LF Brandon Lowe which loaded the bases and was then taken out. RHP Jeurys Familia came on and gave up a two-run double to Diaz and then another two-run double to Wendle. Famila got RF Manuel Margot to ground-out and two batters later struck out catcher Mike Zunino, but then gave up a two-run double to Phillips, before striking out Meadows to end the inning. The offense broke through in the top of the second after LF Dom Smith led off with a single, catcher James McCann followed with an infield hit and two batters later, 2B Jose Pereza came through with a three-run homer. 1B Pete Alonso hit a solo homer in the top of the third inning in front of his family and friends in his hometown for his sixth homer of the year and first homer in his last 15 games which was the longest stretch without hitting a homer in his career. SS Francisco Lindor added a solo homer in the top of the eighth inning. The Mets next game is tomorrow afternoon at the Rays at 1:10 p.m.