SAN FRANCISCO — Sean Manaea offered the perfect description of his pitching performance against the Giants.
“It might have been one of the best, worst games I’ve had in my life,” the Mets left-hander said Wednesday after his team’s 8-2 victory at Oracle Park.
Manaea didn’t allow a run, but was also removed after 4 ²/₃ innings — disqualifying him from getting a win — upon reaching 101 pitches.
Manaea walked four batters in addition to allowing four hits and struck out six.
He loaded the bases with nobody out in the second on walks to Jorge Soler and Patrick Bailey, with Matt Chapman’s single sandwiched in between, before retiring three straight batters without a run scoring.
In the third, Manaea walked Austin Slater and Wilmer Flores in succession but again escaped. Slater was picked off second base, and Michael Conforto struck out before Jorge Soler was retired.
Manaea’s fastball command was the main issue, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
“Deep counts, three balls, but he kept making pitches,” Mendoza said. “It was one of those with bases loaded nobody out in the second inning, and he battled and got out of it, when he wasn’t at his best. It was one of those where the change up was good, the cutter, he got some swings-and-misses, but it comes down to commanding the fastball.”
Manaea’s early exit necessitated a two-inning stint from Reed Garrett, who allowed one earned run and struck out four. Garrett (4-0) was credited with the win.
“The personal win I don’t really care about, but just the fact I put myself out there and you want that last out, that was really frustrating,” Manaea said.
In the six games on the trip, Luis Severino was the only Mets starter to give the team six innings.
Manaea has four straight starts of five innings or fewer.
But the Mets have received results from a bullpen that entered the day with the best ERA in the National League at 2.99.
“With Manaea not going deeper in the game, knowing that you have got Reed Garrett there available for one-plus is huge,” Mendoza said. “He comes in, throws strikes, and he’s got the ability to strike people out but give you multiple innings. To have a piece like that out of the bullpen is huge.”
