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          New York Mets

          Noah Syndergaard: 'I just wasn't able to uphold my end of the bargain'

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 9, 2015, 02:53 AM
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Noah Syndergaard had produced a 1.44 ERA in his previous seven starts, capped by an eight-inning performance last weekend as the New York Mets completed a sweep against the Washington Nationals. The success had propelled Syndergaard's name into the NL Rookie of the Year conversation.

          However, the 22-year-old had a letdown on Saturday at Tropicana Field as his stellar stretch abruptly ended.

          Syndergaard surrendered four runs on six hits in a 38-pitch first inning in what became a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.

          Manager Terry Collins said that if one more batter had reached in the first inning, Syndergaard would have been pulled. He ended up logging a modest four innings.

          "I got a little tense out there -- a little frustrated," Syndergaard said. "I wasn't really sure what was going on in the first inning. It was just kind of like a merry-go-round. ... If I get tense, I start trying to throw harder and harder."

          Syndergaard (6-6) ultimately was charged with five runs on eight hits and two walks. He was tagged with the loss as the Mets' seven-game winning streak ended, and the Nationals pulled back within 1½ games of the Mets for first place in the NL East.

          The final run charged to Syndergaard, which gave the Rays a 5-4 lead, came when he coaxed a two-out grounder from Evan Longoria to shortstop Ruben Tejada in the fourth inning. Tejada struggled to release the baseball, Longoria beat the throw to first for an infield single, and John Jaso scored what became the decisive run.

          "I didn't find the grip there," Tejada said. "It made the difference in the game."

          Syndergaard suggested he got too "fastball happy" in first inning. He labeled the performance "disappointing."

          Said Syndergaard: "The offense did their part. I just wasn't able to uphold my end of the bargain."

          Syndergaard said he had no indication while warming pregame that the wheels were going to come off in the first inning. After the Mets scored three runs in the top half, Syndergaard surrendered a double to the leadoff batter Jaso, followed by a two-run homer to Grady Sizemore.

          "After warming up in the bullpen, I thought I was going to go nine scoreless," Syndergaard said.

          Syndergaard dropped to 0-5 with a 5.01 ERA on the road. He is 6-1 with a 1.57 ERA at Citi Field.

          He had no explanation for the disparity.

          "I feel just as comfortable as I am when I'm at home," Syndergaard said. "But, you know, with the home crowd there [at Citi Field], it's a little bit easier to pitch. It's just something I'm going to have to learn to deal with."