Noah Syndergaard retired the first 16 batters he faced, leading the Mets to a rain-shortened 2-0 win over the Indians Thursday night and a sweep of the three-game series. Cleveland came in averaging nearly six runs per game in their previous 12 games, yet scored only five runs in the three games. Meanwhile, the Mets extended their winning streak to five games and are now 27-9 in their last 36 games.
Syndergaard had all of his pitches working tonight. While he was helped out by a ridiculous over-the-shoulder grab by J.D. Davis – albeit on a route that Dave Kingman would call bad – most of the Indians hitters did not make good contact. Syndergaard lost the perfect game when he shook off a pitch from catcher Wilson Ramos. Tyler Naquin, who later would throw out a runner at the plate, went down and hit a good pitch for a solid single. Francisco Lindor would later single with two outs, but Syndergaard got out of the jam thanks to a diving stop by Pete Alonso. After the play Alonso and Syndergaard chest bumped and the resulting thud was heard in the upper deck.
The Mets didn’t get much offense against the Cleveland starter but they bunched their hits in the fourth inning and came away with two runs, thanks to back-to-back doubles by Michael Conforto and Ramos, who drove in both runs.
Syndergaard was cruising and needed just 73 pitches to complete six innings. But before he could take the mound in the seventh, the game went into a rain delay, one that stopped action for nearly two-and-a-half hours. When play resumed, Jeurys Familia pitched the seventh and Paul Sewald came on in the eighth. Familia continued to get results and, amazingly, Sewald look extremely good, as he picked up two strikeouts.
When the Mets batted in the eighth inning, the heavens opened up again. They got their first two batters on base before the umps called for the tarps again. Play never resumed.
The win upped the Mets’ Citi Field record to 37-21. They’ll look to add to that mark when they host the Braves this weekend.
Someone pointed out this was rain with baseball delays as I spent more time waiting than playing.
Ok…/ I’m now all I’m on Thor. Changing speed…. moving the ball and the batters…. executing pitches
It appears to me that he has also tinkered with his delivery… more closed at the top, and the ball is not as visible
LFGM!!!!
I thought the rain was going to put the brakes on the mojo. Thor was enroute to a complete game win with an additional plus of resting the bullpen.
The 2nd rain was just what was needed. Another day-another win plus a nice tune up for Familia/Seward.
Enjoy!
That Davis catch in left field was nothing short of jaw dropping. If that 1% chance of making that catch doesn’t show that this team is living charmed, nothing will show it. Have to keep winning though because all the teams in front of them won. Tonight starts a series that if the Mets can sweep, they will be in a position to steal the division. If no sweep, or worse, the wildcard will probably be their only hope.
Do we want to vote Phil Regan, the Mets MVP?