NEW YORK — Tuesday served as a fitting summary of Jacob deGrom's unjust season.
He produced another stellar start and set an MLB record, yet suffered the loss and dropped below .500 despite owning the best ERA in baseball.
Such is life for the New York Mets' ace in 2018.
By allowing just two runs in seven innings, deGrom has allowed no more than three runs in an MLB-record 26 starts, yet the Mets still fell to the Marlins, 5-3, at Citi Field.
DeGrom (8-9) broke a tie with Leslie "King" Cole, who set the record with the Cubs in 1910.
“It means a lot," deGrom said of the record. "When I go out there I try to put up zeroes and that’s what I’ve been trying to do all year. Tonight, I wasn’t able to.”
Rain, rain go away
DeGrom has not been rewarded as almost any other pitcher would be for a season of this caliber, and nights like Tuesday have almost become the norm.
The righty did more than enough to win, as he has all season long, but his teammates' offensive struggles prevented a win. DeGrom might have 20 wins if he pitched for a contender, but he will have to try to win the Cy Young Award with the fewest wins ever by a starter in a full season. The current low is 13 by Felix Hernandez in 2010.
Tuesday night, a three-batter stretch defined deGrom's night and sent him to a loss.
With the bases empty and two outs in the fourth, Brian Anderson hit a grounder up the middle that bounced off Jeff McNeil's glove to give the Marlins their first hit.
Two batters later, light-hitting center fielder Lewis Brinson crushed an elevated 0-2 fastball off the center-field wall to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.
The hit marked the first extra-base hit deGrom yielded in an 0-2 count this year. He missed his spot with the pitch, hoping to locate it more inside.
DeGrom responded by retiring the final 10 batters he faced, but the damage was done. He struck out nine batters while walking two, and his ERA rose from 1.68 to 1.71.
Anthony Swarzak and Robert Gsellman allowed three runs in the last two innings.
"That one inning gave up three hits and happened to be a (two-run double)," deGrom said. "Thought it was a good spot to go and he just got to it and beat me there."
Mets manager Mickey Callaway noted how deGrom has been forced to pitch in tight spots all season long, making his body of work all the more impressive since one hit –like Brinson's Tuesday night — can be the difference between a win and a loss.
“What can happen happened tonight when the game is always close," Callaway said.
Rain, rain go away II
Tuesday's loss was even more frustrating since deGrom had originally been scheduled to pitch Sunday before being pushed back two days due to poor weather.
With reports of rain Sunday, the team held deGrom out of that game for fear that it would be delayed and he would be wasted. DeGrom and pitching coach Dave Eiland both believed it was best to just wait and avoid a potential rain-shortened start.
Rain then postponed Monday's game, pushing deGrom to Tuesday and giving the 30-year-old seven days rest between starts.
“Looking back, hindsight is 20-20," deGrom said, "I wish I would have pitched Sunday.”
One less start
The rainout also cost deGrom one more start, and he has just three left.
The Mets (66-77) had planned for deGrom to make five starts to finish the season–including Tuesday — but they won't start him on short rest to get that extra start.
DeGrom, however, said he will lobby to pitch on short rest if it will help him.
"If we have a chance to get in the playoffs, we’ll pitch him on early rest. That would be the only reason ever," Callaway said before the game.
"What will matter is how he pitches in the starts he does have left. It should matter because it’s a good race and will be fun to watch.”
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