This was a tale of three stories. First, it was Noah Syndergaard in cruise control, efficiently shutting down the Twins for seven innings. Then it was the Mets capitalizing on some terrible pitching to score six runs in the fifth inning courtesy of six walks and a hit batter by Twins pitchers. Lastly, it was the Mets turning a blowout into a closer game as Syndergaard tired in the eighth and Jeurys Familia again struggled to limit the damage. In the end, the Mets held on to win and split the series in front of their home crowd, but this was no run-of-the-mill victory.
The Twins opened up the scoring in the third with an RBI single from Max Kepler and they held onto a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fifth when Twins starter Jake Odorizzi and two relievers all lost track of the strike zone. The starter surrendered a single and three walks before giving way to reliever Andrew Vasquez who promptly hit Brandon Nimmo to allow a run to score. Vazquez walked the next two batters, plating two more runs, before getting swapped out for Trevor Hildenberger who kept the trend going. Another bases loaded walk was followed by a 2-RBI single by Wilson Ramos to put the score at 6-1.
Meanwhile, Syndergaard was humming along with a good feel for his slider and change-up, making quick work of the Twins hitters. In the bottom of the seventh, the Mets tacked on three runs courtesy of a bases loaded single from Michael Conforto and an RBI single by Jeff McNeil. The score heading into the eighth inning was 9-1 and it seemed like Syndergaard was on his way to a complete game as his pitch count was low. However, in the eighth the Twins suddenly pounced on the big righty with a single, double and triple, plating two runs to close the gap to 9-3.
Familia entered the game with no outs and a runner on third and promptly gave up an RBI single. Syndergaard was charged with four runs, but was terrific for seven innings and it’s hard to be upset with that. Familia meanwhile surrendered a double and a walk to load the bases before getting a key double play and a ground out to keep the score at 9-5.
With a four-run lead, Mickey Callaway again turned to his closer Edwin Diaz. Diaz surrendered his first run of the season on a home run by Mitch Garver, who hit three in the two-game series. The closer then gave up a single and uncorked a wild pitch before settling down to strikeout the last two batters and secure the Mets win.
The Mets begin a tough 10-game road trip tomorrow starting with four in Atlanta and followed by three in Philadelphia, a day off and three in St. Louis. Steven Matz takes the mound tomorrow night against righty Kevin Gausman. The Mets and Braves are both 7-4. Let’s go Mets!
Syndergaard was so much better than his final line was he was dominant for seven innings, but got a little unlucky and seemed to be a bit fatigued in the 8th. Familia was very shaky it should have been a blowout. I was worried they were gonna get no hit going into the fifth inning but McNeil came through but zlI thought his baserunning blunder would cost the Mets but Syndergaard drawing a walk was huge and everyone put together strong plate appearances and the fifth was wild. Conforto continues to kill it and has been elite though he’s completely flying under the radar. The bullpen is shaky as all get out but otherwise good win.
We were talking about the consecutive walks/HBP in the Game Chatter and wondering if it had been done before. It’s hard to find details for that combo but it appears the most consecutive walks is 7.
But there’s a game from 1959 where the Go-Go White Sox had four straight walks, a FC groundout, three more walks, HBP, walk, strikeout, walk, walk.
That’s 9 BB/HBP in 10 PA and 11 in 13
The White Sox scored 11 runs in the inning on only one hit. Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox both had two walks in the inning. Jim Landis had the FC to mess up the streak and he also grounded out to end the inning. Someone give that guy the take sign!
I think that last year 4 of those walks might have been Ks. Bravo for a good eye at the plate. It wasn’t pretty but it pads your stats nonetheless and puts another one in the win column. Time to hit the road where we historically play better.
It’s fair to talk about the walks since they were a big part of the scoring. However, I was disappointed to see Syndergaard go out there for the 8th. Though he hadn’t thrown many pitches, it was a cold night and followed a second long inning and I felt a better warmed up pitcher in this point would have been better. Thor’s pitch count wasn’t high, but the score, elements and situation made me quite surprised Callaway didn’t bank the seven innings and get a long reliever in there to finish the game.
Even if Thor strikes out all three guys, in those conditions and this early in the season, I wouldn’t push a pitcher that has gotten hurt every year for three straight years. My opinion.
I agree with you Gus for the reasons that you present. With the next 7 games against your East rivals there should have been a second-tier reliever pitching the 8th with a 9 – 1 lead. Not Familia or Diaz. Wilson and Peterson we’re rested. If you can’t trust your second-tier relievers in this situation then you might as well not have them on the team.
My gut reaction: don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
I’ll dismiss the final numbers on Noah—that’s as well as I’ve seen him pitch–Great use of his entire arsenal