The Mets moved up Wednesday’s start time to avoid the oncoming weather, but even so Griffin Canning rained on the parade.
The right-hander had been thriving in the early part of the season, but recently walks have been his downfall. On this particular day, two errors behind him only worsened the situation.
So much for the sweep against an American League patsy: the Mets lost 9-4 to the White Sox at Citi Field to snap a four-game winning streak.
The nine runs allowed were a season-high by the Mets.
This was a missed chance for the Mets (34-22), who are set to host the Rockies for a three-game series starting Friday. The Rockies are on track to surpass the modern record for losses in a season, set by the White Sox last year.
This version of the White Sox isn’t much better, with 38 losses in 56 games.
The lone bright spot for the Mets was left-handed reliever Brandon Waddell pitching five innings, allowing manager Carlos Mendoza to rest a bullpen that has been frequently tasked with high-pressure situations. An off day on Thursday will further aid in giving that group some much-needed rest.
In his shortest non-weather affected start of the season, Canning lasted only three innings and allowed five runs, two of which were unearned, on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.
In his previous start, last Friday, the right-hander pitched only 2 2/3 innings but was removed following a lengthy rain delay.
But Canning also struggled that night, walking four batters and allowing three earned runs against the Dodgers.
Andrew Benintendi stroked a two-run single in the first inning to begin Canning’s rough afternoon. Mike Tauchman’s walk started the rally and Miguel Vargas doubled Tauchman to third before Benintendi delivered.
Consecutive errors to begin the third helped sink the Mets further. Brett Baty committed a throwing error before Jeff McNeil booted a grounder, giving the White Sox runners on first and second.
Tauchman unleashed a two-out double that scored both runners to widen the Mets’ deficit to 4-0.
Canning’s troubles worsened in the third, when he surrendered a leadoff double to Lenyn Sosa.
After Edgar Quero walked and an ensuing sacrifice bunt, Josh Rojas gave the White Sox a 5-0 lead with an RBI ground out.
Canning issued another walk in the inning, to No. 9 hitter Michael A. Taylor, before escaping.
Mark Vientos’ three-run homer against Shane Smith in the third got the Mets back into the game.
Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto drew consecutive walks to begin the inning before Vientos, with two outs, cleared the right-field fence for his sixth homer of the season.
The White Sox scored twice in the sixth against Waddell in extending their lead to 7-3.
Benintendi stroked an RBI triple to right field and scored on Sosa’s single. Tauchman doubled to start the rally.
Rojas’ double in the seventh gave the White Sox runners on second and third before Taylor’s sacrifice fly pushed the Mets into an 8-3 hole.
Benintendi homered in the eighth, leaving him a double short of the cycle.
