Mets pitcher Blade Tidwell roughed up in MLB debut against Cardinals

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.

The ball is returned to Mets pitcher Blade Tidwell as he makes his major-league debut against the Cardinals on Sunday in St. Louis. Imagn Images

Tidwell got knocked out in the fourth inning, after allowing six earned runs, in the 6-5 loss in Game 1 of a split doubleheader at Busch Stadium.

Tidwell, 23, arrived 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.”

Tidwell was given a 1-0 lead early, but Willson Contreras tied it 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.”

Tidwell surrendered three straight singles to load the bases in the third before Nolan Gorman’s sacrifice fly tied it 2-2.

The Cardinals finished 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.

“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.”