What a week for Met rookies!
Last night, David Peterson had a brilliant debut, earning a road victory over the Red Sox. Tonight, Andres Gimenez made his presence felt, collecting his first hit, triple and RBI!
Gimenez started in place of Amed Rosario at shortstop, behind the best pitcher on the planet, Jacob deGrom. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Jacob deGrom on the mound? I hope you took the under.
All jokes aside, deGrom actually left the game tonight in position to win.
The Mets scored in the bottom of the first, with Dominic Smith beating out a double play ball to score Jeff McNeil.
The score remained 1-0 until the 4th. deGrom stuck out Mitch Moreland but the umpire was not a robot and decided to call the pitch a ball. Moreland took advantage and doubled home Rafael Devers, tying the game.
Enter Rene Rivera. Two pitches got past the backstop who will turn 37 this weekend, and the Red Sox had a 2-1 lead.
Tough luck for deGrom who came into the game with a scoreless streak of 28 consecutive innings. That streak ended tonight at 31, the third longest in franchise history! (Koosman, Dickey.)
deGrom went six innings. Let’s give you his line.
6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 88 pitches. He owns a 1.64 ERA.
His first four pitches of the night? 100,99,99 101. Is he getting better? Unreal.
We told you that deGrom left with the lead. We also told you about Gimenez’ big night? Could the two be related? Hmm.
First things first. In the bottom of the fifth, Brandon Nimmo tied the game with a solo shot, his first of the year.
Now, to the bottom of the sixth. Let’s watch Andres Gimenez SMOKE this ball to center, which scored Robinson Canó.
So, there is deGrom’s lead. How long would it last?
Seth Lugo entered the game in the seventh. Christian Vazquez hit a solo home run to left, and just like that….
No decision for deGrom. Death, taxes and well, you know the rest.
I thought deGrom might come back out for the seventh, having thrown just 88 pitches, but I understand being cautious. Also, is this season even real?
Our second most reliable reliever, Justin Wilson, came into the game in the 8th with the score tied at 3. When he was pulled for Dellin Betances, the Red Sox had taken the lead and piled on, 6-3 bad guys.
Important to note that Betances came in and struck out Jose Peraza with the bases loaded, which kept the game within reach.
Hey, what are ya gonna do? These are our two most reliable relievers. Just didn’t have it tonight. Why would they, though? deGrom was pitching. Ugh.
Well, good job Betances because Yoenis Céspedes went deep to left for his second home run of the year. 6-4.
Mets could not tack on, and on we went to the ninth.
Jeurys Familia got the ball and looked sharp. He struck out a batter and induced two ground balls, working around a ground rule double.
Bottom of the ninth. 6-4. Did the Mets have any magic in them?
Brandon Nimmo drew a leadoff walk, because of course he did, and Jeff McNeil came to the plate as the tying run. Jeff McNeil drew a walk, and Pete Alonso came to the plate as the winning run!
Intrigue!
Alonso hit a bloop single and the bases were loaded for Michael Conforto!
More intrigue!
Well, Conforto struck out looking and J.D Davis stepped to the plate with one out.
Infield single! 6-5. Rafael Devers made a diving stop which kept the ball on the infield, preventing the Mets from tying the game.
Here comes Céspedes!
Nope. He struck out swinging. Conforto and Céspedes both had 2-0 counts and swung at curveballs out of the zone. Not ideal.
Bases loaded for Robinson Canó. Line out to shallow center and the Mets lose. 6-5.
Well, that sucked.
Tough loss in a back and forth affair.
Few questionable moves from Rojas tonight. J.D Davis is not an outfielder. Another two hits from Canó. Smith keeps hitting. The upper levels of the farm are finally producing talent? Four hits for Alonso!
Matz tomorrow.
