Mets designate struggling Carrasco for assignment

D.J. Carrasco thought about the question and acknowledged it was fair to wonder.

But after giving up his second home run in as many nights, he thought the New York Mets designated him for assignment following Wednesday's game due to his performance, rather than any lingering feelings from Tuesday night's incident against the Milwaukee Brewers.

"I don't think so," Carrasco said, when asked if he thought the move was connected to Tuesday's controversy, when he caused a stir by hitting Milwaukee star Ryan Braun with a pitch following a home run. "I don't think so. I've struggled here. Those questions will never be answered. There will always be speculation. I don't think so."

Carrasco gave the Mets enough reason on the field, coughing up a two-run homer to Todd Frazier in the eighth inning of the Cincinnati Reds' 6-3 win Wednesday night.

Before Wednesday's game, Carrasco again said he did not purposely hit Braun with a pitch the previous night, one pitch after allowing a home run to Rickie Weeks to give Milwaukee an 8-0 lead. The questionable pitch prompted his ejection.

It also helped create some intrigue with Mets manager Terry Collins removing David Wright from the game for fear of retaliation. Wright was caught on camera arguing passionately with Collins that he should stay in and take the hit, if it were to come.

But Wright and Collins both said before Wednesday's game the matter was settled. Collins also said he trusted Carrasco when he said the pitch wasn't intentional, but told him that if it had been, the pitcher would have put his team "in a bad situation."

Wright, who said Tuesday night he wanted to "discuss" why Braun got hit, said before Wednesday's game he had talked to Carrasco and considered the matter settled.

So, Carrasco might well have been right that Tuesday's situation, while it didn't help, might not have hurt. He was given another chance in a tight spot Wednesday, with Collins saying he was limited to which relievers were available and that he thought it would be a good test.

Carrasco failed it, and now lefty Robert Carson will come up from Class AA Binghamton to try to help the Mets' struggling bullpen.