51s fall to El Paso in Church’s Triple-A debut

When the Mets recalled starter Logan Verrett on Tuesday, the 51s needed a backup plan for their Pacific Coast League game against the division-leading El Paso Chihuahuas.

That plan was Andrew Church.

That didn’t work out quite as planned, either, as the Henderson native didn’t arrive in El Paso, Texas, in time to start.

When he did join the 51s, Church gave up three runs in four innings and took the loss as the 51s fell 6-5 to El Paso at Southwest University Park.

Reliever Erik Goeddel wound up starting the game in place of Church and pitched a pair of scoreless innings.

Manager Wally Backman said Church arrived in El Paso around 6:30 p.m. and made it to the park during the first inning.

Church, who had never pitched above Class-A Advanced before Tuesday, gave up three runs in the third inning, giving back a 2-0 lead.

But after that he tossed three scoreless frames to keep the 51s (66-72) in the game.

“He was a little bit nervous in the third. He gave up three runs. He threw a lot of strikes. He gave up those three runs and then in the fourth, fifth and sixth, he pitched very well,” Backman said. “And he only had thrown I think (63) pitches, but we’re playing a National League game. I would have liked to have let the kid pitch a little bit longer but the way the game was at 3-2 at the time, I had to pinch hit him.”

After Church’s departure, the bullpen struggled to keep the 51s close. Jeff Walters gave up a pair of runs in the seventh on an Austin Hedges two-run home run. An inning later, Josh Edgin gave up a double to Carlos Asuaje. The run, which wound up being the game-winning tally, was charged to Beck Wheeler.

The 51s mounted a comeback in the ninth inning thanks to a two-out, two-run home run from Michael Conforto, but the attempt fell just short as Eric Campbell struck out to end the game.

The top of the order — comprised of Brandon Nimmo, Gavin Cecchini and Michael Conforto, three Mets first-round draft picks — went a combined 8-for-15 with four runs and three RBIs in the loss.

“The bullpen didn’t give us a chance,” Backman said. “We came fighting back, storming back and it was 6-5 but if the bullpen comes in and does their job, I think that we win that game tonight.”

Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand.

Up next

■ Who: Las Vegas 51s at El Paso Chihuahuas

■ When: 6:05 p.m. PDT Wednesday

■ Where: Southwest University Park, El Paso, Texas

■ Starters: Josh Zeid (2-1, 6.58 ERA) vs. Carlos Pimentel (11-7, 5.93)

Next five

■ Thursday: Las Vegas at El Paso, 6:05 p.m.

■ Friday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 5:35 p.m.

■ Saturday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 6:05 p.m.

■ Sunday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 6:05 p.m.

■ Monday: Las Vegas at Salt Lake, 12:05 p.m.