Jacob deGrom was dealing tonight and the Mets held on to edge the Phillies 2-1 at Citi Field to take the opener in the three-game home series. This makes six wins in their last seven games.
deGrom brought his best stuff, mixing hot fastballs at up to 98 mph with biting sliders and well-timed change ups to keep Phillies hitters off balance all night. With two outs in the fifth, deGrom was yet to allow a hit when Curtis Granderson lost a fly ball in the clouds that went for a triple. The runner scored on a single by former Met Ty Kelly. That would be all that the Phillies could muster against deGrom in seven innings of work. In all he struck out 12 and allowed just three hits. Blevins and Sewald combined to keep the Phillies off the board in the eighth and Addison Reed closed it out for his 13th save.
The Mets were able to do just enough against Phillies starter Ben Lively, a 25-year-old right hander, who held the Mets to two runs on five hits in six and a third innings. The Mets scored a run in the second inning when Granderson drove in T.J. Rivera with a single. In the fourth Jose Reyes reached third on a triple and was brought home on a seeing eye single by Travis d’Arnaud. Like in the old days, two runs was all they needed to win this game.
The series continues tomorrow with Zack Wheeler coming off a short stint on the disabled list to oppose Jeremy Hellickson. Let’s go Mets!
A win is a win! Don’t compare them, just collect them.
Trying to figure out what the turning point was for deGrom this season.
TexasGusCC – subtle adjustments can make a big difference at the highest level of competition. JDG started the season striking everybody out, but also walking too many. Warthen worked with him to adjust and he overcompensated by opening up in his delivery (those two terrible starts) once he readjusted, he’s been lights out. Think of it as adjusting the temperature in the shower. You turn the hot water up because it’s too cold – it takes a little while and then it’s too hot, and you keep adjusting til it’s just right.
Thanks Matt. Add to that what I read but had forgotten that John Smoltz recommended two light bullpen sessions between starts rather than one longer one, after that start where Collins went to put his arm around JDG’s shoulders after the infield butchered two plays leading to several runs.
TexasGus – good points. I hope that in the off-season the Mets prioritize locking up deGrom to a long term deal. He belongs in blue and orange for years to come.
Lucky the offense took the night off when JDG was pitching. Hope they come back strong the next few games.
He’s making a strong push for the AS game.
Grandy owes Degrom a steak dinner.
It would be demeaning to call this “just” a quality start because it was so much more.It was dominating: seven innings, 111 pitches, 12 strikeouts and two hits (the third was tainted). Met starters have been getting distance lately. TC has been letting them pitch into deeper pitch counts and that in turn is not exposing the weak bullpen as much. Wheeler’s start and his results are important today to determine if he is healthy enough to fit into the rotation. The Mets will be strapped if they have to nurse Wheeler back into the rotation because they no longer have the luxury of giving up games for an individuals development. The infield is clicking better defensively with Reyes at shortstop. Although the switch was handled clumsily it was a good decision by TC.
As good as Cabrera has looked at second, I would have liked to have seen him at third because Flores plays a much better second than third. Between Flores, Rivera and Checcini I think we can cover the keystone next season, but the hot corner is a black hole. I’m not convinced Moustakas is worth a big long-term contract.