Early lead not enough to lift D-backs vs. Mets, Bumgarner leaves with injury

PHOENIX — It looked like the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets might never make it out of the first inning on Wednesday as both offenses came out of the gate hot.

Between both teams, 10 hits and nine runs were scored in the first inning of the D-backs’ 7-6 loss to the Mets.

Pitcher Madison Bumgarner had a less than stellar start before exiting with left shoulder discomfort.

Each of the first six Mets batters the veteran faced reached base and a three-run home run by James McCann put the D-backs in the hole 4-0 early. Bumgarner was able to complete the inning by getting the next two Mets to ground out.

By the second inning, manager Torey Lovullo said he and pitching coach Matt Herges felt the southpaw’s body language seemed off. Bumgarner allowed two more hits and completed the inning before being replaced by Riley Smith to start the third.

“He just didn’t look like he had good tempo and good rhythm,” Lovullo said. “I started to pay attention to it and he just lacked a little bit of finish to his pitches. … It was probably around pitch 40 that I noticed that something was not clicking, something was not right.”

Bumgarner finished the day with eight hits allowed, two strikeouts and no walks. He said postgame that he’s felt the discomfort for around two to three weeks but didn’t think much about it.

“Stuff comes and goes throughout the year, every year. It’s pretty rare to go out there and feel great every time and this is just a bad judgement on my part,” the pitcher said. “I thought it was going to get better and go away sooner.”

Bumgarner has allowed 16 earned runs over his last three starts and holds a 5.15 ERA. Lovullo said the pitcher will undergo an MRI soon to assess the extent of the injury.

The D-backs’ offense, though, wasn’t about to let New York take a commanding lead and equally roughed up Mets starting pitcher David Peterson in the first.

After leadoff batter Carson Kelly walked, Ketel Marte drove in a home run to shrink the Mets’ lead to two.

Absolutely crushed.@ketel_marte4 | #RattleOn pic.twitter.com/WLrCB01TsB

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 2, 2021

A single by Christian Walker plus two more walks issued by Peterson loaded the bases for Arizona’s newest acquisition Ildemaro Vargas.

Vargas drove in two runs on a single and Peterson was relieved by Robert Gsellman after recording just one out and giving up the tying run.

.@ildemaro_tigre is back and we're tied! pic.twitter.com/h2yyjvKIHK

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 2, 2021

Vargas, a familiar face who began his career with the D-backs back in 2017, went 2-for-3 on the day with three RBI. The infielder was traded to the D-backs on Wednesday from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations.

A base hit by Bumgarner off Gsellman put the D-backs up 5-4 before Kelly grounded out to end the inning.

“We kept banging away at it,” Lovullo said of the offense. “It’s nice to make the noise that we did after giving up four runs in the first inning, to go ahead and put our own five spot up there. It was just some really timely hitting, good patient approaches.”

The Mets and D-backs traded runs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, to keep the game tied until the ninth inning.

A Francisco Lindor leadoff double in ninth off reliever Joakim Soria spelled doom for the D-backs. Two batters later, Pete Alonso drove in Lindor to take the lead, while the D-backs were unable to answer in the bottom of the ninth, sealing the loss.

Leaguewide, Wednesday was dedicated as the inaugural Lou Gehrig Day, honoring the legendary player and his fight against ALS.

UP NEXT

The D-backs begin a six-game road trip Thursday when they travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers. First pitch is set for 4:40 p.m. Listen live on ESPN 620 AM.

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