Jacob deGrom gave the Mets another outstanding start and the offense contributed just enough to give him his third straight win, this one a 3-1 victory over the Phillies Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.
With fellow CY Award candidates Aaron Nola and Max Scherzer pitching very well yesterday, deGrom not only held serve – he upped the ante. He pitched a complete game, with one unearned run and nine strikeouts. Facing the last batter of the game, he registered a pitch at 99 miles per hour. The game ended with a grounder to Wilmer Flores and I think I speak for all Mets fans when I say I was glad to see Flores race to the bag rather than risk a throwing error. The outing lowered deGrom’s ERA to 1.71 for the season and put his record above .500 at 8-7.
While deGrom was the clear star of the game, Jeff McNeil had a good day, too. He singled, stole a base and scored the Mets’ first run in the fourth inning. Then in the fifth, he made a highlight-reel defensive play, as he covered some ground before making a diving stop. And with the speedy Odubel Herrera running, he made an extremely quick throw, which just beat the diving – what a maroon – Herrera. And to top it off, he delivered an RBI triple in the sixth inning, a ball hit to the deepest part of the park that hit midway up the wall.
Devin Mesoraco, who essentially catches all of deGrom’s starts now, also delivered a solo homer.
Tom McCarthy was on the radio today and said deGrom wasn’t in his top two in the cy young discussion cause of wins. Thank god that yutz no longer calls Mets games as he’s so terrible and nearly took Howie down a half a peg. I hope Tom enjoyed that performance where deGrom was throwing 98-99 like a younger Verlander. The Hoskins at bat late in the game was amazing the 2-1 changeup was tremendous and that high fastball has changed the game for him. Great game for him all his pitches were filthy especially the slider and change and his fastball was explosive.
Terrific game by McNeil showing off some range and his turns on the double play has improved and getting a huge triple and a few other good at bats. McNeil’s defense has been a pleasant surprise.
Last year deGrom had a stretch where he won eight in a row this year he’s won three in a row if he can get wins in his last five or six starts he probably is a lock for the cy young.
Quite a performance by dg
The defensive play by McNeill was a gem
The Phils field and Run bases very poorly
Rosario needs to keep track of outs on both sides of play
Not sure what McCarthy has been smoking but perhaps today’s game skewed his ranking a bit.
Jake is having one of the best seasons I have ever witnessed, and I saw Doc’s 1985 first hand. That said, his stick can use a little work.