Jacob deGrom slayed the snakes with 13 strikeouts and Michael Conforto led the way with four hits for a 3-1 victory. The game was a bit closer than it should have been as the Mets failed to add insurance in the eighth, stranding the bases loaded. Thankfully, Jeurys Familia was able to lock it down, retiring the meat of the Diamondbacks’ lineup in order for his 12th save.
Well, deGrom, certainly proved there were no lingering effects from his hyperextended elbow issue as he delivered one of the most dominant starts of his career. Throwing exactly 100 pitches, 71 for strikes, our ace was in control from the get go and probably could have gone another inning, but Coach Mickey Callaway handed the ball to Robert Gsellman in the 8th who set down the side in order. deGrom did not walk a batter and allowed one run on six hits through seven. He did a masterful job mixing pitches and location. His 13 strikeouts were a season high for any Mets pitcher and matched his own career high. His ERA now sits at a sterling 1.75 and his record an unblemished 4-0. Also among the league leaders in strikeouts, if deGrom keeps this up, he’ll join the Cy Young race.
Other than Conforto, the Mets lineup didn’t contribute much, though Wilmer Flores a double and walk. Adrian Gonzalez beat the shift with a bunt base hit to the left side – something Jay Bruce might want to try as well. With Juan Lagares joining Yoenis Cespedes on the disabled list, the Mets went with an all lefty outfield, which may be the norm for a while. Hopefully, Bruce and Brandon Nimmo can get their bats going now, though they both got on base via the walk in this game.
This was a great win for the Mets and hopefully it will give them a bit of momentum as the series continues. Tomorrow Steven Matz opposes Patrick Corbin in a duel of lefties. Let’s go Mets!
Maybe I was influenced by the announcers but I was saying deGrom is tired and has a compromised arm.What is going out to the 7th inning?
Wrong again.
The first two pitches of the 7th inning were curves. The first player ripped a double and the next player hit it right on the screws but right at the 1B. Then Mesoraco came out and talked to deGrom and it was all fastballs and one changeup the rest of the inning.
I think it’s a different story if Lobaton was catching and we would be criticizing Callaway for sending him out in the 7th.
Quick – who’s the Mets highest paid pitcher. deGrom? Familia? Nope, it’s the forgotten AJ Ramos, who is making 9.225 mil this year (the 10th highest paid reliever) and has mostly pitched meaningless innings this year.
In the beginning of the year, if you were handed a script of the SP going 7 innings, you’d probably think one of Familia/Ramos would handle the 8th and the other would get the 9th. But here we are on May 19th and we see Gsellman pitching the 8th. In terms of who Callaway trusts, i would say that Ramos is no better than 4th behind Familia, Gsellman, Lugo, and possibly even Sewald.
While the Vargas signing has been a disaster so far, i consider Alderson’s trade for Ramos last year to be a far worse decision. Not only were the Mets going to have to pay him a ridiculous salary this season, they had give up something for him too. And while this in hindsight, in the depressed FA market last year, that extra 9.225 mil last year could have gone a long way