(SportsNetwork.com) - Reigning National League Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom tries to put the brakes on a personal two-game losing streak on Wednesday when the New York Mets close out a brief two-game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field.
deGrom hasn't received much support his last two times out, but it really hasn't mattered, as he's surrendered nine earned runs in 10 1/3 innings of his last two starts.
The 26-year-old righty absorbed the loss on Thursday to Washington, as he allowed five runs (3 earned) and five hits in 5 1/3 innings to fall to 2-3 on the year to go along with a 3.34 ERA.
The two unearned runs were the result of an error by Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores, which opened the door to a three-run fourth inning for the Nationals.
"I have to do a better job picking Flo up," said deGrom. "That was frustrating. I felt like I had good stuff."
Baltimore, meanwhile, will turn to righty Ubaldo Jimenez, who has been a pleasant surprise for the Orioles through the first month. Jimenez continued to impress last Wednesday against Chicago before an empty Camden Yards, as he yielded two unearned runs in seven innings to improve to 2-1, while lowering his ERA to 1.59.
"Probably after the first batter I faced, it was the same (as a regular game)," Jimenez said of the unusual circumstances. "I felt like it was one of those Spring Training 'B' games, or one in the Minors. But after the first guy, I was like, 'This is the situation. This is a game you have to win.'"
Jimenez has faced the Mets six times and is 2-3 against them with a 3.40 ERA. . New York drew first blood on Tuesday, as Bartolo Colon pitched into the eighth, Kevin Plawecki hit an early two-run double and the Mets escaped with a 3-2 win.
Colon (5-1) kept the O's in check until the eighth, when Manny Machado buried a pitch deep in the left-center field seats to make it 3-1. He exited having allowed only five other hits while striking out nine over 7 2/3 innings.
"He's been nothing short of remarkable," Mets manager Terry Collins said of Colon.
Daniel Murphy finished 2-for-3, scored once and knocked in the other run for the Mets, who had dropped three of four to Washington.
Chris Davis also homered among his two hits for the Orioles, who were coming off a series win against the Rays. Bud Norris (1-3) gave up three runs on seven hits while fanning four over seven full frames in defeat.
"I've seen him throw. I know he's got an electric fastball," Davis noted. "In that situation, you're just trying to get a pitch up that you can drive and try to put a good swing on."
These teams haven't met since 2012 when the Mets swept a three-game set. In fact, the Mets have won the last six and eight of the previous 10 in the series.
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