NEW YORK _ Luis Rojas calmly took the ball from Rick Porcello, the Chester native who certainly thought he wouldn't see his manager at the mound this soon. Porcello then took off his glove and held it as he made the slow walk off the field. He descended the dugout steps and walked toward the other end of the bench, receiving a few pats on the back along the way.
This was not how Porcello, a former Cy Young Award winner, imagined his Mets debut.
Porcello, formerly with the Red Sox, only pitched into the third inning. He did not pitch well, but his defense also failed to make key plays behind him. Still, Porcello did not provide the Mets a chance to win.
Over two innings, the right-hander allowed seven runs _ six earned _ on seven hits. He walked three batters. When he exited, the Braves led by four runs.
It got much, much, much worse for New York.
The final result: Braves 14, Mets 1.
Yes, it was as bad as that score indicates.
The Mets, who on Saturday were a strike away from going 2-0, are now 1-2 as they head to Boston. It's still early in the season, but the Mets cannot afford a poor start in a 60-game sprint.
