Mets Lose To Rays 8-5 After Verlander Gets Rocked

Mets RHP Justin Verlander (Photo Credits to Corey Sipkin-NY Post)

 The New York Mets lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 8-5 tonight at Citi Field for their second consecutive loss and dropped their record to 20-23.

RHP Justin Verlander made his home debut and started out well with two scoreless innings, but ran into trouble in the top of the third.

Verlander gave up an infield hit to 1B Harold Ramirez and then walked SS Wander Franco.

Later in the inning, Verlander gave up a three-run homer to 3B Isaac Parades.

Verlander's troubles continued in the top of the fourth after he gave up a one-out double to catcher Christian Bethancourt and two batters later, a RBI double to Ramirez.

Verlander had another difficult inning in the top of the fifth after he gave up a lead-off to 2B Brandon Lowe and two batters later gave up a two-run homer to Parades and was taken out after the inning.

Verlander's final line was five innings, eight hits, six runs, two walks and three strikeouts.

RHP Dominic Leone came in next in the top of the sixth and gave up a solo homer to CF Jose Siri.

RHP Josh Walker followed and had a scoreless top of the seventh.

RHP Drew Smith gave up a RBI single to Ramirez in the top of the eighth.

RHP Adam Ottavino threw a scoreless top of the ninth.

The offense was held scoreless for the first four innings until the bottom of the fifth after 3B Brett Baty hit a solo homer.

In the bottom of the seventh, 2B Jeff McNeil led off with a single and 1B Pete Alonso followed with a two-run homer.

In the bottom of the ninth, McNeil led off with another single and two batters later, pinch-hitter Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run homer.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Wednesday, May 17 at home against the Rays at 7:10 p.m.