Add The New York Post on Google A pair of adventurous squirrels were the highlight of the Mets’ evening.
Unlike the team, they gave Mets fans something to cheer about.
Robert Stock and the lifeless lineup certainly didn’t.
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.
The journeyman right-hander had very little, and the Mets failed to take advantage of Brewers starter Dustin May leaving after one batter in an ugly 8-1 loss at Citi Field.
In the bottom of the third inning, the crowd began cheering. A squirrel had gotten loose behind home plate. The cheers turned to groans when the Mets failed to take advantage of a two-on, two-out opportunity when Carson Benge flied out to left field.
As the fans were rooting on the squirrel, Bo Bichette fouled a pitch off his foot. He later left the game with a left foot contusion.
In the top of the following inning, the Brewers put the game away. Brice Turang ripped a three-run homer to make it 7-0. Milwaukee started the second with six consecutive hits.
Stock, a 36-year-old journeyman who replaced Freddy Peralta in the starting rotation when the veteran was traded to the Rays, hasn’t given the Mets much length.
He lasted only four innings Wednesday and gave up 10 hits and seven earned runs, as his ERA rose to 7.40.
In five starts, he has failed to record an out in the sixth inning. This performance was similar to his Aug. 8 start against the Pirates, when he was tattooed for nine hits and eight earned runs in three innings.
Next week, rosters expand by two, and the Mets could opt to replace Stock in the starting rotation with a prospect like Jonah Tong. Interim manager Andy Green said before the game he was unsure of any promotions that could be coming.
Leading off the game for the Mets, A.J. Ewing drilled a line drive off May’s right shoulder/armpit.
May initially tried to stay in but was in obvious pain and, after a few warmup pitches, departed. It was later announced as a right scapula contusion.
It didn’t help the Mets lineup. Robert Gasser held it to six hits and one run over 5 1/3 innings.
His lone hiccup was allowing a Francisco Alvarez run-scoring single in the fourth.
