Jacob deGrom got soaked Friday night, and that was after the rain had already stopped at Citi Field.
In his return from the injured list, the Mets ace sounded further alarms with an awful performance that pushed his earned run average into uncharted territory in the team’s 10-2 loss to the Brewers.
DeGrom allowed five earned runs over four innings and saw his ERA surge to 4.85 — the highest it has been following any start in his career. The big three of DeGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler each have an ERA of at least 4.85.
DeGrom blamed a mechanical flaw that hasn’t been resolved, but added: “To go out there and do that, that is embarrassing.”
The 12-day gap between starts and a rain delay of 2 hours, 42 minutes before first pitch couldn’t have helped, as deGrom barely survived a third inning in which the Brewers sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs.
“I felt like I was good in the first inning,” deGrom said. “I felt like I was good in the bullpen, and then for some reason I just started speeding up [my delivery].”
DeGrom (2-3) had been scratched from his last start with elbow discomfort, but an MRI exam returned clean, prompting Mets officials to reinsert him into the rotation for Friday.
But deGrom, who previously battled a strep infection, has cratered over his past three starts, following gems against the Nationals and Marlins to begin the season. Those performances had extended deGrom’s quality start streak to 26 — tying Bob Gibson’s all-time mark — before the Twins battered him at Citi Field on April 9.
“He is still battling it, just leaving the rubber a little quick,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “He and [pitching coach] Dave [Eiland] looked at it again tonight, it’s the same issue and it causes him to yank pitches over the middle and leave pitches up when he wants to get them down, but he’ll get it fixed and he’ll get right.”
This one didn’t start until 9:52 p.m., as the Mets tried to avoid a Saturday split doubleheader that may have provided a logistical nightmare, given the reduced parking around the ballpark for a circus setup and the fact a big turnout is expected for the scheduled night game that includes a Syndergaard bobblehead giveaway.
DeGrom was finished after four innings in which he threw 89 pitches and allowed five earned runs and put 10 runners on base (three by walk and two were plunked).
“My arm feels great,” deGrom said. “That is what is frustrating about it. I felt really good.”
The Brewers turned the game into a runaway in the fifth, scoring four runs against Corey Oswalt to take a 9-1 lead. Lorenzo Cain’s three-run double inflicted the most damage. Christian Yelich reached base for a third time in the game with an ensuing RBI single.
Oswalt had been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse before the game to provide insurance in long relief. The right-hander struggled in his previous appearance with the Mets this season, allowing five earned runs over 3 ²/₃ innings on April 13 in relief at Atlanta.
Eric Thames stroked a two-run double in the third after Mike Moustakas’ RBI single had put the Mets in a 1-0 hole. Orlando Arcia’s two-run single in the inning extended the Brewers’ lead to 5-1.
Yelich started the rally with a leadoff single in the third before he stole second. Ryan Braun was hit by a pitch in the inning and Travis Shaw drew a walk.
DeGrom had loaded the bases in the second — with a walk and hit batsman contributing to the danger — but escaped without a run scoring.
Todd Frazier was robbed of a home run in the second, when Lorenzo Cain reached fully extended above the centerfield fence for a circus catch that ended the inning.
Frazier stroked an RBI single in the fourth that cut the Brewers’ lead to 5-1. Robinson Cano’s RBI single in the fifth, following Jeff McNeil’s double, gave the Mets their second run.