DETROIT – For a season debut after five weeks on the injured list, the Mets needed to like what they saw from Justin Verlander on Thursday.
But the final word final result was utterly unacceptable.
The Mets are reeling, in need of an energy infusion, a undeniable fact that was underscored of their 2-0 loss at Comerica Park that gave the underwhelming Tigers a three-game sweep.
On today the Mets (16-16) managed only three hits while losing for the ninth time in 11 games.
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez fired eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts to frustrate manager Buck Showalter’s beleaguered crew.
The Mets were shut out for the sixth time this season.
Verlander’s debut after spending over a month rehabbing from a strained teres major muscle near his right armpit began rough, with two home runs allowed in the primary inning.
However the right-hander survived, lasting through the fifth with only the 2 earned runs allowed on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
He threw 79 pitches.
The previous Tigers star received a standing ovation from the gang as he walked to the mound in the primary inning. Verlander spent 13 seasons with the Tigers before he was traded to the Astros in 2017.
He arrived to the Mets last offseason on a two-year contract price $86.6 million.
Verlander’s start appeared heading in the identical direction as Max Scherzer’s an evening earlier following consecutive homers by Riley Greene and Javier Baez in the primary inning.
But Verlander retired the ultimate two batters within the inning and avoided trouble for the rest of his start.
Within the nightcap of Wednesday’s doubleheader, Scherzer returned from a 10-game suspension and allowed six earned runs on eight hits, including two homers, over 3 1/3 innings.
Unlike Scherzer – whose velocity lagged – Verlander had his normal heat, averaging 95 mph along with his four-seam fastball.
Verlander topped out at 96.6 mph with the four-seamer.
The Mets’ probabilities were scarce.
Tommy Pham singled within the second inning and was thrown out attempting to steal second.
Eduardo Escobar walked within the third and was left stranded, and Starling Marte’s leadoff single was wasted within the fourth.
Brandon Nimmo’s single within the ninth snapped a streak of 16 straight batters retired by the Tigers.
But Nimmo was thrown out attempting to steal second, and Marte struck out to finish the sport.