Arizona Diamondbacks no match for Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets Friday: By the Numbers

The first inning of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ series opener versus the New York Mets contained a flurry of action, as the two teams combined for five runs in the opening frame of Friday’s matchup at Citi Field in New York.

And then…virtual nothingness.

From the conclusion of the first inning on, the two teams would combine for only one run, a momentary comeback attempt by the D-backs in the top of the ninth that elicited the one run, as the D-backs fell to the Mets 4-2.

A sacrifice fly by D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt plating center fielder A.J. Pollock would draw first blood for the D-backs, as Pollock doubled and stole third base in the road half of the first before Goldschmidt ultimately brought him home. However, that was about all the damage that would be allowed by Mets pitching phenom Noah Syndergaard.

Lasting eight innings, the 22-year-old Syndergaard would surrender only four hits, striking out 13 batters en route to his fourth victory of the season.

Meanwhile for the D-backs, starter Chase Anderson would struggle through 4.1 innings of work, allowing eight hits and four earned runs. Adding injury to insult, Anderson would also take a one-hopper off the shin, but would continue on before giving way to reliever Andrew Chafin.

The D-backs now find themselves in an all too familiar position of being one game below .500 when they re-take the field against the Mets Saturday afternoon.

Below we take a look at Arizona’s loss, by the numbers.

5-27

When the offense isn’t clicking, you can expect the D-backs to be facing an uphill battle. Such was the case Friday night in Queens, as the D-backs fell to 5-27 this season when scoring three runs or less in a game.

24

Despite driving in a run via sacrifice fly in the first inning, Goldschmidt failed to reach base safely after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the series opener versus the Mets. That snaps a streak of 24 straight road games in which Goldschmidt has reached base safely. It also ends a nine-game streak of the same variety against NL East opponents.

1-for-17

How the D-backs’ No. 3 through No. 8 hitters fared against Syndergaard.

17

D-backs catcher Welington Castillo has reached base via hit or walk in 17 of his last 19 games. Over that span, Castillo is hitting .323 with six doubles, four home runs, 13 RBI and seven walks. Castillo entered the day ranked first among all catchers since June 12 in average (.323) and tied for first in extra-base hits (10).

8 (Part I)

Pollock extended his hitting streak to eight games Friday night following his 1-for-3 effort at the plate.

8 (Part II)

Meanwhile, D-backs shortstop Nick Ahmed saw his eight-game hit streak end after his 0-for-4 outing versus the Mets.