Al Leiter got shelled by the Marlins last night; and while the 22,226 fans at Shea were sweating because of the 90-degree heat, the Mets might be sweating after seeing their highly paid, 37-year-old starter fall even deeper into his extended funk.
Leiter lasted just 5 2/3innings, allowing eight hits and eight runs – seven of them earned. He’s still 8-4, but no numerical makeup could gloss over the way he’s been pitching of late.
Coming into the year, Leiter never had allowed more than eight runs in a game: Last night in an 8-4 loss to Florida, he coughed up eight for the third time in little over a month. After opening 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA, he’s 5-4 with a 7.01 ERA in his 11 starts since, lacking some of his trademark aggressiveness.
“I did find myself for a period working outside so much I did lose sight of my cutter,” Leiter said. “You get into a cat-and-mouse [game] as a result of being inconsistent, thinking too much of what the hitter is trying to do. That’s when you leave the curveball up or you don’t get the cutter in enough. That’s the difference.
It’s not encouraging for the Mets, who gave Leiter a two-year deal that pays $8 million this year and $10 million next year.
He gave up a career-high 10 earned runs May 15 in San Francisco, and then eight runs June 8 against Seattle. Then came last night.
Granted, he was betrayed by his shoddy defense. Shortstop Jose Reyes commited a huge error in the third, when he booted a potential double-play ball off the bat of Ivan Rodriguez to plate a pair of runs, and give Florida a 2-1 lead. Leiter allowed a Mike Lowell double to push the lead to 3-1.
With the Mets trailing 4-1, Florida chased Leiter in the sixth. Luis Castillo hit a two-out, two-run shot and Leiter allowed a Rodriguez double and walked Lowell before being pulled.