Rafael Montero came into Tuesday’s game, having pitched an impressive major league debut, when he faced the Yankees at Citi Field on May 14th.  In that game, he would toss 6 innings, giving up three runs on five hits, while striking out three batters and walking two. The pitching prospect would come away with a loss as the Mets were shoutout 4-0.

The Dominican native’s second start was one to build on as he faced off against Dodgers starter Josh Beckett, but Montero would only last 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits, while striking out four and walking four to drop his second game in his major league career.

In the first he would allow a single to Yasiel Puig, but get Hanley Ramirez to fly out to right fielder Curtis Granderson and then strike out Adrian Gonzalez to end the inning. In the second he gave up his first run in the game on a single by Josh Beckett scoring Carl Crawford who walked earlier in the inning and after stealing second, advanced to third on Juan Centeno‘s throwing error.

The fifth inning, would be Montero’s last, as he first walked Puig, then after getting Ramirez to pop out to Wilmer Flores at short, he gave up a two-run home run to Adrian Gonzalez. The next batter, Matt Kemp, doubled to center field and Crawford singled in Kemp to quickly end the night for Montero.

He was impressive at times especially with his 11-pitch, 1-2-3 fourth inning, and his strikeouts of Gonzalez and Puig, but this would not be his night. Just another game to build on as Montero continues to go through the growing pains to become an impact pitcher in the majors.

(Photo Credit: Howard Simmons/NY Daily News)