Corey Oswalt got Yankee Stadium-ed, according to his manager.
In evaluating the right-hander’s performance in Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader, Luis Rojas was willing to look beyond the three-run homer Oswalt surrendered to Gio Urshela in the second inning.
Luke Voit’s double and Rougned Odor’s bunt single had set up the inning for the Yankees.
“Not to take away from anybody,” Rojas said after the Mets’ 4-2 loss in The Bronx. “A cutter off the end that turns into a double and then a bunt single and a fly ball to right — the short porch in right field. It’s a fair game, we’re playing in the same stadium, but it’s typically a fly ball to right and he gives up three runs. I don’t think there is anything bad you can say about him mistake-wise. He pitched really well.”
Oswalt, who lasted four innings, was starting for the first time this season after previously giving the Mets two superb relief appearances.
“It was my job to go out there and keep the game close,” Oswalt said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t handle business in the second game.”
Miguel Castro threw a wild pitch in the fifth that gave the Yankees their final run in Game 2. Rojas earlier in the day suggested Castro’s heavy workload early in the season has contributed to his recent shaky stretch — the right-hander didn’t retire any of the three batters he faced Saturday after allowing two earned runs in one inning against the Nationals on Monday.
“The All-Star break is going to be huge for him, both from a physical and mental standpoint as far as finding out what’s going on,” Rojas said. “You look at him throwing triple-digit sinkers and his slider is nasty, we just have to get him right.”
Jonathan Villar was activated from the injured list before Game 2 and Albert Almora Jr. optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Villar had been sidelined for the last two weeks after straining his right calf. Villar started at third base and struck out in all three of his plate appearances.
Jeurys Familia had a second dominant relief appearance since his return from the IL. The right-hander pitched a scoreless sixth inning with two strikeouts in the Mets’ Game 1 victory. A day earlier Familia pitched 1 ¹/₃ scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Sean Reid-Foley was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation before Game 1. Yennsy Diaz was recalled from Syracuse to give the Mets another reliever.