NEW YORK (AP) -When the New York Mets needed a big game, Tom Glavine pitched one of his worst.
The 300-game winner put the Mets in a huge hole Sunday when he was chased in the first inning, charged with all seven of Florida’s early runs. He made a throwing error and hit Marlins lefty Dontrelle Willis with a pitch with the bases loaded, mistkaes that symbolized the Mets’ September collapse.
Glavine hoped to pitch the Mets into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. Instead, he managed only one out in the second-shortest start of his brilliant career.
New York began the day tied for first place in the NL East with the Philadelphia Phillies, who hosted Washington.
The seven runs matched the most Glavine allowed in an inning during his 21-year career, the Elias Sports Bureau said. He also gave up seven to Colorado in 1996.
The Mets nearly got back in the game right away, though they lost first baseman Carlos Delgado to a broken left hand when he was hit by a pitch.
Glavine got ahead 0-2 on leadoff batter Hanley Ramirez, then threw a pitch that glanced off Ramirez’s forearm. But plate umpire Joe West ruled that Ramirez didn’t attempt to get out of the way, so he wasn’t awarded first base.
Ramirez wound up walking and after Dan Uggla grounded into a force play, Glavine didn’t get another out. Jeremy Hermida singled, Miguel Cabrera hit an RBI single and Cody Ross punched a two-run double to right.
Ross headed for third on the throw home. The ball squirted away from catcher Ramon Castro and Glavine picked it up, but fired wide of third for an error that made it 4-0.
Mike Jacobs looped a single, Matt Treanor walked and Alejandro De Aza singled to load the bases. Glavine then plunked Willis with a 1-2 delivery, forcing home another run.
The 41-year-old Glavine, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who earned his 300th win in August, was lifted for Jorge Sosa and booed loudly by the sold-out crowd as he walked off the mound. After striking out Ramirez, Sosa gave up a two-run double to Uggla that made it 7-0.
New York scored in the bottom of the first on Willis’ wild pitch and had the bases loaded when Ramon Castro hit a long drive to left field. Thinking it was gone, Castro raised his index finger in the air. But Ross made the catch on the warning track and let out a deep breath.
Delgado was in obvious pain after he was hit on the left wrist by Willis’ pitch. He stayed in the game to run, then was replaced at first base by Jeff Conine in the second inning.
New York also stranded two in the second and left the bases loaded in the third without scoring.
A wild Willis was pulled after walking five in 2 2-3 innings. He entered 11-3 with a 2.49 ERA in 18 career starts against the Mets – including 5-0 at Shea Stadium.
The Mets were trying to avoid one of the biggest collapses in baseball history. They led the NL East by seven games after play on Sept. 12, but squandered the entire cushion and fell behind Philadelphia by one game with their fifth straight loss Friday night.
New York then bounced back for a 13-0 rout of the Marlins on Saturday and pulled back into a tie for first when the Phillies lost to the Nationals.
A victory Sunday over Florida coupled with a Philadelphia loss would give the Mets consecutive division titles for the first time. But a New York loss and a Phillies win would eliminate New York from the postseason.
The Mets had overcome seven-run deficits to win only twice since their inception in 1962. They rallied past Houston 11-8 after trailing 8-0 in September 1972, and came back to beat Atlanta 11-8 after falling behind 7-0 in June 2000.
Glavine failed to get an out on May 16, 1989, with Atlanta at the Chicago Cubs. He threw only seven pitches in that game, allowing four runs – three earned – and four hits. He departed after spraining his left ankle while covering first base.
The last time the Mets gave up seven runs in the first inning was July 31, 1999, at the Cubs.
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