Jeff McNeil and Michael Conforto hit back-to-back homers in the 11th inning to lift the Mets to their fifth-straight win, a 5-2 decision over the White Sox in the opener of their three-game series. The win broke a streak of seven straight extra-inning losses for the Mets.
Noah Syndergaard, the subject of numerous trade rumors, took the hill and pitched wonderfully, giving up just an unearned run in 7.1 IP, while amassing 11 Ks. He was cruising until the eighth inning, when he allowed the first two runners to reach base. He got the next batter and then Mickey Callaway opted to go to the bullpen and play matchups.
Justin Wilson gave up a bunt single to load the bases and was removed for Seth Lugo, who got out of the inning with the 2-1 lead intact when he got a GDP ball.
Edwin Diaz was brought on for the save and had a shaky outing. The only thing more questionable than Diaz’ command was the pitches that the White Sox batters swung at. The Mets were lucky to get out of the inning allowing just the tying run.
Robert Gsellman came on to pitch the 10th and 11th innings and was perfect, retiring all six batters he faced, the last two on strikeouts.
Amed Rosario led off the 11th inning with a single, his fourth hit of the game. Tomas Nido sacrifice him to second. The White Sox brought in a lefty to face McNeil, who got a ball up into the jet stream that Gary Cohen talked about earlier and hit a ball that just barely cleared the fence for a two-run shot. Conforto followed with a monster homer that nearly hit the scoreboard.
Anyone wondering about Syndergaard had to be impressed with his outing tonight. Any team considering paying the freight for Diaz has to have serious second doubts.
Robinson Cano finished 0-6. He’s now 1-26 since his three-homer game.
Syndergaard was scintillating with his killer slider back and his change up looking as good as it has this year. He looked like he looked in 2016 when he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball and had no hit stuff and looked like he looked in late July 2015 vs the Padres where he flirted with a no no. I think it’s safe to say that Michael Conforto is back after not being himself over the course of 160-170 plate appearances coming off a concussion but he had a good homestand started seeing more pitches and is hammering the ball again. Michael has not only three straight games with a homer but with a walk too after not drawing a walk for two weeks. I think we are seeing what s beast he is when on his game. Another monster game for Rosario, who has become a core position player guy along with Alonso, McNeil and Conforto and I have no idea why he’s hitting behind Cano, Ramos and Frazier when he’s a better hitter than all of them especially the first two mentioned.
The bullpen was got good and bad with Lugo getting a monstrous double play when I thought he was playing with fire going after Jose with fastballs but it worked out. Gsellman was filthy in extras with some killer sliders and curves thrown and you wonder why he isn’t better when you see him like that. Diaz was very wild today but Nido’s passed ball was Ramos like a cost Diaz the lead. Hey at least Nido didn’t bunt into a dp in extras. Mcneil’s Homer was huge and juiced ball aided while Conforto hit the hall as hard and as far as you could. McNeil looked bad his first few at bats but as always turned it around his next few he doesn’t stay down long.
This season is starting to get interesting and fun though I still don’t believe in the teams wild card chances but winning is fun. Oh and please don’t trade Thor.
Three things from tonight’s game:
1. Diaz didn’t look good. His eyes had fear and confusion right from the start, and he had no clue where the ball was going. His fastball was up and in all night as he was short-arming it. Eloy Jimenez swinging at pitches by his neck saved Diaz from losing the game.
2. Nido needs to catch that pitch, it it had so much movement that his glove couldn’t catch up. If it was Ramos, everyone would want his head right now.
3. Alonso looks terrible since he moved down to #3 and has no one of any consequence hitting behind him. His
numbers before the break: 376pa, 21 2B, 2 3B, 30 HR, 37bb, 92k’s, .280/.372/.634/1.006 | 10% bb%, 24% k%
since break includ. tonight: 73pa, 0 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 14bb, 21k’s, .143/.315/.357/ .682 |19% bb%, 29% k%
Alonso can use a decent hitter hitting behind him.
Nice comeback win after a lousy Diaz performance, again. I don’t wAnt him traded in division, but man if someone is willing to pay what the Mets did, hasta la vista. If they keep him, he is very close to Familia banishment as long as they are in it.
That last sentence about Cano is no small note. He looks as bad as it gets, and this is now in scary territory. Ramos was really bad too, and his season long inability to elevate the ball has to leave him with no trade value.
As long as they keep winning it will remain fun, but if the market breaks their way, they need to take advantage, despite this run.
Callaway (or Broadie? Or Wilpon?) continues to fail to protect Alonso in the line up.
Alonso getting a steady diet of junk.
TexasGusCC had some good comments regarding Alonso not getting enough protection with the way the Mets lineup is constructed. TJ also noted the albatross that Cano & Ramos are now; yet Calloway still places them in the meat of the order. Would some one point out to me what would be wrong with this (proposed) lineup?
1. McNeill 2. Rosario 3. Alonso 4. Conforto 5. Davis 6. Frazier 7. Ramos 8. Cano
I would relent and put Cano batting 7th on days that Nido catches. I believe with the way Conforto and Rosario have been hitting lately…..and the way Cano and Ramos aren’t; this is the way the lineup should be constructed.
Thank you footballhead. The Mets want their best hitter hitting second, for whatever reason, so Conforto at #2. But, putting Rosario in #2 and leave one of the “veterans” at #8, and we all know the Mets don’t roll that way. Frazier seems to get “taken care of” even when he sucks (make your own conclusions why) and the other two guys were just brought in this past winter. But hey, come get us!
At 11:30 an open thread for the trade deadline will be published. Do not comment/speculate anywhere besides an open thread on trade thoughts.
If/when a trade goes down today, Matt will be posting a piece on it ASAP
Editor’s Note – For the love of God – comment on the article. If you want to comment on something else, use the Open Threads.