Even without his best stuff or command, Jon Niese once again pitched well enough to win. And once again, the Mets’ inept bats overcame his solid start, turning what should have been victory into defeat.
Niese fought his way into the sixth inning, fought his own shaky command, even fought leaving the mound. If their lineup showed that kind of fire, the Mets might have done better than yesterday’s 5-2 loss to the Cubs at Citi Field.
“Jon Niese didn’t have his good stuff. He battled through six innings and didn’t want to come out of the game. That’s what I want,’’ said manager Terry Collins, who — unprompted — singled out Niese and offered up praise for the lefty’s competitiveness. Shame the Mets have been putting it to waste.
Niese (3-6) wasn’t at his best, allowing six hits and, even more damaging, four walks in 5 2/3 innings. After issuing walks to Anthony Rizzo and Scott Hairston to lead off the fourth, he saw counterpart Scott Feldman stroke his 0-1, two-out cutter for a two-run single. He allowed little else, leaving down 2-1 in the sixth.
“I didn’t want to come out,” Niese said. “As any starter, you want to stay in there and get that last guy. It’s my fault for walking four guys.
“I tried to hide the ball [from Collins]. It didn’t work.’’
After going 0-2 with a 16.20 ERA in his first two May starts, Niese has overcome shoulder tendinitis and pitched to a 1.93 ERA in five starts since. His 1-2 mark over that span is more an indictment of the Mets’ offense than his pitching. Niese — who said his shoulder felt fine — was unspectacular yesterday, but certainly solid.
“That happens,” he said. “Some days you have great stuff and some days you don’t. You’ve got to figure out a way to battle.
“I didn’t have my best stuff, didn’t have my greatest command. But they did a good job, grinded out some at-bats [and] made me throw a lot of pitches. … They laid off and I’ve got to give them credit. I’ve got to attack them more, put them away.’’