The Mets offense jumped to life, scoring their most runs in a game since 2015, as they beat the Orioles, 16-5, Wednesday night in Baltimore. In the three previous games against the Orioles, the Mets managed just four runs.
The Mets already had five runs on the board when they exploded for nine runs in the sixth inning. And then just for laughs, they tacked on two more runs in the ninth. The Mets had 19 hits, five walks and two hit batters. All 10 hitters who came to the plate got at least one hit, including Jack Reinheimer, who entered the game as a pinch-runner in the sixth inning and who got his first hit in the majors in the eighth, a solid single up the middle.
Brandon Nimmo had a perfect night, going 5-5 with a HBP. He had two chances to hit for the cycle, but ended up with two singles, two doubles and a triple. Todd Frazier had three hits, including a double and a homer, and had four RBIs. He just missed a second homer, flying out a couple of steps before the wall. Kevin Plawecki hit a monster homer, a grand slam, to highlight the big sixth inning. Wilmer Flores also left the yard in the ninth inning.
Ten of their 19 hits went for extra-bases.
Zack Wheeler won his sixth straight start but it was hardly a dominating performance. He struggled mightily in the first two innings, throwing 56 pitches combined in those two frames. But he settled down after that. His final line was 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 3 Ks. He could have pitched the sixth inning but by that point the Mets held a 14-1 lead and even that seemed bullpen safe.
The Mets closed the game out with three relievers. Jerry Blevins and Drew Smith each pitched a scoreless frame but Tim Peterson allowed four runs and saw his ERA climb to 7.34 for the year.
Baseball needs to gain some clarity in the definition of “assault” committed on a baseball field. Otherwise, they will be faced with “outside the game” legislation, enforcement, and consequences that grow out of “The Unwritten Rules of the Game”.
Keith’s statements last night lacked some thought about some of the “other” unwritten rules of the game….. Teams in 88th place should affect the pennant race exclusively through their efforts and results on the field.
My experience on both ends of blowouts in athletic contests (as a Participant, as a Coach, as a Fan, as an “Official”) are that The Losers are the most dangerous participants in these contests. The wrong end of a blowout is often seized as an opportunity to vent frustration via violent and dangerous behavior…. to injure opponents.
The Marlins have no place as “enforcers”….they should serve as Spoilers and nothing else.
I understand how the game is played at a high level, including the gamesmanship and enforcement of behavior between competitors.
Baseball needs to address it’s poorly defined, often casual, insufficient enforcement of its own rules in this regard….before someone else does.
Hitters wear “padding” and dip over plate. Pitching inside could limit this as hitters might be reluctant to lose games to injury. Maybe stricter penalties against pitchers could be tied to limiting the pads.