Todd Frazier apologizes to Jacob deGrom after latest NY Mets loss

ATLANTA — Lacking answers for why the Mets' lineup often leaves Jacob deGrom to fight an opponent single handedly, Todd Frazier could only apologize.

"I said, 'Dude I’m sorry, I’m not sure what’s going on, I don’t know why we’re not producing for you,'" Frazier told deGrom following Wednesday afternoon's 2-0 loss to Atlanta. "We talk about trying too hard. Maybe we’re trying too hard when he’s pitching.”

In what has become a nightmarish recurring trend for the Mets, they yet again wasted a sensational outing from their ace Wednesday at SunTrust Park.

DeGrom (4-2) surrendered just an RBI single to Freddie Freeman in seven innings, but deGrom's teammates only provided two hits as the Mets (28-36) were swept in this quick two-game series.

The Mets have won two of deGrom's last 10 starts, the fewest wins by a team during a 10-start stretch in which a pitcher has posted that low an ERA since 1913, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“He was dominant. Of course he’s going to give up one run, everyone is human," Frazier said. "For us to not put up any runs for him again, I said, 'I’m sorry.'"

Wasting your ace

When the obituary is written on this Mets' season, it will surely include the team wasting this absolutely dominant stretch from deGrom. Including Wednesday's effort, deGrom has posted a 0.87 ERA spanning his last 10 starts.

Teams are supposed to win when their ace is on the mound, but the Mets are now just 5-9 when deGrom starts.

DeGrom was one of four starting pitchers who entered Wednesday with at least 10 starts and an ERA below 2.00, and the teams that employ the other three (Justin Verlander, Corey Kluber, Max Scherzer) have combined to go 30-12.

Across town, the Yankees are 12-2 in Luis Severino's outings.

Bad teams find ways to waste brilliant starting pitching, and the Mets are trending toward being grouped among baseball's worst.

"I got a goal when I go out there, and that’s put up zeros and keep us in the ball game," deGrom said.

DeGrom has insisted throughout this stretch that he hasn't let the offensive woes affect him, but it leaves him with such a thin line to walk.

The only blemish on deGrom's line Wednesday was the RBI single to left field he allowed in the fourth to Freeman, one of the premier hitters in baseball. Freeman also homered off rarely-used lefty Jerry Blevins in the eighth.

DeGrom struck out seven and allowed seven hits, and is somehow 0-1 in four starts against Atlanta this year despite a 0.72 ERA.

“I know deGrom doesn’t care about the wins and losses by his name but he’s been essentially perfect every time he goes out there and we’ve wasted them," Mets right fielder Jay Bruce (0-for-3) said. "That’s frustrating as can be. ... He’s the type of guy who feels like he can do more, but there’s really not more he can do.”

Pitiful offense

Aces are allowed to surrender a run when they pitch since one run should not be a death sentence, but that sure seems to be the case with this Mets' offense.

They have scored just 19 runs in deGrom's last 10 starts, and three of those runs were scored after he exited the game.

The Mets did not put up much of a fight Wednesday against rookie Mike Soroka, only recording their first hit on Michael Conforto's leadoff single in the seventh.

Conforto reached second with no outs that inning, but Frazier and Brandon Nimmo struck out, and Bruce fouled out to end the threat.

The game ended with Bruce flying out to strand runners at second and third, leaving deGrom with another loss in what seemed like a one-against-25 battle.

He may be as good as there gets in the game at the moment, but even deGrom can't do it all by himself. A pitcher needs run support.

Apologies only go so far.

“Nobody is happy we’re losing. Got to score runs to win and we’re not doing that," deGrom said. "Nobody is happy with what’s going on.”