NEW YORK -- The baseball popped into the air, carrying with it the Mets' chance at a much-needed gem from Jacob deGrom. It had been nearly three full weeks since a Mets starting pitcher recorded an out in the seventh inning. Cruising into that pivotal frame with a pitch count of 84, deGrom seemed primed to snap that streak.
Then a callus on his finger began bothering him. He loaded the bases on a hit, a walk and a hit batter. After a strikeout, deGrom then induced a popup to Jose Reyes, thinking to himself, "Please somebody get there," as the Mets' shortstop chased after the ball.