ST. LOUIS — Blade Tidwell got his feet wet Sunday, but before long he was soaked.
The right-hander, in his major league debut, flashed 97 mph heat for the Mets and largely avoided hard contact. That didn’t stop the Cardinals from putting the ball in play to spoil his afternoon.
Tidwell got knocked out in the fourth inning, after allowing six earned runs, in the Mets’ 6-5 loss in Game 1 of a split doubleheader at Busch Stadium.
The Mets, after receiving a rare starting pitching letdown, lost for the third time in four games.
In addition, Jesse Winker departed the game with what the team termed right side discomfort. Winker, who started in left field, has served as the team’s primary DH this season. Winker was set to receive an MRI exam on his oblique before Sunday’s second game.
Tidwell, 23, was promoted from Triple-A Syracuse as a sixth starter. He was optioned back following the game to create roster space for reliever Dedniel Núñez, who was recalled for the nightcap.
“It was awesome, indescribable, really,” Tidwell said, referring to his first major league experience. “It is everything I hoped for and more.”
Over 3 ²/₃ innings Tidwell surrendered six earned runs on nine hits and three walks with two strikeouts. He was removed after throwing 82 pitches. Tidwell said he needed to execute better ahead in the count.
“I lost command there at the end,” Tidwell said. “Just getting ahead of guys and putting them away once I am there.”
The Mets rallied in the eighth and ninth innings, but each time left the tying run in scoring position. In the eighth they scored twice before leaving the bases loaded. Overall, the Mets were 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners stranded.
Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo delivered successive two-out doubles in the first inning to produce the game’s first run.
Willson Contreras tied it 1-1 with a homer leading off the second on a slider. The Cardinals threatened with two additional base runners in the inning before Tidwell escaped by striking out Lars Nootbaar.
“That was a good piece of hitting [by Contreras],” Tidwell said. “I executed that pitch where I wanted it. Maybe it was the wrong pitch. Maybe not. But he put a good swing on it.”
Winker’s sacrifice fly put the Mets ahead 2-1 in the third, following Juan Soto’s leadoff single and Alonso’s second double of the game. Alonso reached third on a passed ball but was left stranded.
Tidwell surrendered three straight singles to load the bases in the third before Nolan Gorman’s sacrifice fly tied it 2-2.
The Cardinals knocked out Tidwell in the fourth. After Alec Burleson walked to load the bases, Brendan Donovan stroked an RBI single and Nolan Arenado walked. Contreras followed with a two-run single that placed the Mets in a 6-2 hole and ended Tidwell’s afternoon.
“We saw flashes of his potential, especially with the life on the fastball,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But we also saw there’s room for development, especially with the secondary pitches. At this level you are going to need secondary pitches to put hitters away, but also to get back in counts.”
Jeff McNeil walked leading off the sixth and following Luisangel Acuña’s single scored on Francisco Lindor’s RBI fielder’s choice. But with a chance for the Mets to get closer after Lindor reached second on Jose Barrero’s throwing error, Soto was caught looking at strike three in a second straight plate appearance, concluding the threat.
Lindor’s two-run single in the eighth against Phil Maton got the Mets within 6-5. But the Mets left the bases loaded in the inning, as Alonso struck out in an eight-pitch at-bat against lefty JoJo Romero and Nimmo was retired.
In the ninth, Mark Vientos singled leading off against closer Ryan Helsley, but pinch runner Starling Marte was left stranded at third base.
