Robinson Cano and Pete Alonso each clubbed two homers to lead the Mets to an 11-4 win over the Marlins Monday night.
The homers were part of a nine-XBH night for the Mets. In all, the Mets banged out 14 hits, including four with runners in scoring position. They also drew eight walks and had three batters hit.
The offensive explosion came on a night that Robert Gsellman started. It’s hard to say they benefited Gsellman, as he didn’t even complete two innings. The offense takes the night off when Jacob deGrom pitches but in two Gsellman starts, they’ve put up 22 runs. It’s not fair that Gsellman’s starting and it’s not fair that the offense has kept him from two deserved losses.
Chasen Shreve stranded two runners for Gsellman and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings. Neither Jeurys Familia nor Brad Brach were particularly good, but the Marlins could only tally one run against them. Franklyn Kilome came on and pitched the final three innings to pick up the save. In two outings for the Mets, Kilome has 7 IP and 9 Ks. But he struggled in the ninth inning, making the Mets get Seth Lugo up and warming. Hey, this is why he’s not in the rotation – so he can warm up with the team holding a 7-run lead.
So great to see the offense and you have to like Shreve. Let’s build on this W.
I would like to keep seeing this lineup. It keeps the higher OBP and AVG guys at the top that don’t strike out as much, and Alonso’s power but low average and high K rate after the middle has had its chance. Of course if he can become more steady at the plate, he can move up to fifth and breakup the lefties.
In both of his outings, Gsellman has thrown alot of pitches in inning 1, showing a lack of command. If he can clean that up, he should be good for four innings or so next time. The guys on the radio had a hard time understanding why Lugo was throwing, and even said that “there are other guys that can be used”.
The NL East standings are pretty interesting. Philadelphia has played 16 home games and 1 away game and are only 8-9. Atlanta leads the standings with a +16 Runs Differential and are 8-2 at home but 6-8 away. I can’t see that .800 home winning percentage lasting long, but I could see the struggle on the road against these tough East teams. The Mets are 5-7 both at home and away with a division worst Run Differential of -14; the worst by far. Time to start cashing in more baserunners. Miami is 1-3 at home but 8-4 away; that won’t last. Washington is in the cellar and are 4-8 at home but 4-4 on the road. I like the Mets chance at 4.0 games back in this unsettled division.
The Cano trade was easily one of the worst trades in franchise history, but when he’s on he’s fun to watch hit.