Pete Alonso had a career-high six RBIs, three of which came on a monster homer in the first inning, leading the Mets to a 10-8 win over the Braves Thursday night. The win broke a three-game losing streak and salvaged the final game of the three versus Atlanta.
Julio Teheran, who entered the game with a lifetime 2.68 ERA against the Mets in 168 IP, served up hits to the first four batters he faced, including the homer to Alonso, which landed in the pool high above center field. The Mets tacked on three more runs in the second, knocking Teheran out of the game.
Alonso and Amed Rosario each finished with five hits. Wilson Ramos had four hits and Juan Lagares had three. Todd Frazier had just one hit but it was a home run. In all, the Mets tallied 23 hits on the night.
Marcus Stroman was the recipient of the big offensive output. He was not particularly effective – he allowed four hits and four walks in 5.1 innings – but the Mets are 3-0 in games he starts. Stroman came here with the reputation of keeping the ball in the park, but he allowed 2 HR in this game. The Mets need to get both better quality and quantity from Stroman moving forward.
The Mets closed out the game using four different relievers. Brad Brach had his third straight scoreless appearance for New York, giving some hope that he can be an effective member of the pen the rest of the season. Drew Gagnon served up 4 HR in 1.2 IP, which hopefully eliminates any thoughts that he’s worth having on the MLB roster. Gagnon was so bad, the Mets had to bring in Edwin Diaz to get the final out. Of course Diaz walked the first guy he faced, giving all of us a panic attack. But he got a strikeout to end the game.
Whether it was a ploy to make Diaz relax or Callaway was full of BS, that statement on Sunday that Diaz would be put in low leverage situations wasn’t the case. We all tried to figure out what Callaway was doing last night bringing in Lugo in the 7th inning and he sold us some beachfront property on the moon that Wilson or Gsellman would have closed that game once Lugo goes two innings. So, Lugo would face the bottom of the order and have the lesser guys face Acuna, Albies and FFF? LOL to that. But, that’s what he insisted that he would do 100 out of 100 times. What a pawn.
So, you take out a cruising starter after 6 innings and go straight to your closer? Now, we see why the “closer” came in the 7th inning: so the preferred and selected one can close the game, but we never got there. Question: If Wilson and Gsellman were worthy of closing last night’s game, where were they tonight? Answer: Back in their roles after Callaway was able to get a save chance for Brodie’s prize. This allows Callaway to keep Lugo in the “Andrew Miller” role, and bring in the celebrity to close no matter what his performance dictates.
Not really against Diaz closing the game, as much of I’m against Callaway being more clown than I knew him to be. No credibility left in my book. He should be fired.
I don’t care so much about a Manager’s Credibility with Gus from Texas….or with Eraff. If He has Cred with His players, I’ll judge his Cred by that.
Players make Moves and Managers…. Warren Spahn commented that He played for Casey Stengel Before and After Casey was a Genius.
I’d like an inventory from all of you of all the great moves Mickey made during their streak… I have one…He kept them Playing.
I disagree. The players are the reason of the winning streaks despite the Wilpons, Trader Brodie and Mickey Mouse who manages like Goofy. The players enthusiasm and spirit is why the Mets are where they are. McNeil, Alonzo, Smith, JD and Nimmo are infectious with their enthusiasm and will. Imagine how good the Mets could be if they had a good management and ownership.
Gut reaction: this game should have been rated R because we witnessed the career suicide of Drew Gagnon with the assistance of dr. Kevorkian who left him in after two home runs, three home runs and eventual suicidal four home runs. The Diaz four-pitch walk made my stomach turn and prepare my mind for the pending disaster.
It was a great game for the offense as outlined in the summary. They going to Kansas City, Kansas City here they come. They got some crazy lil’ women there and I’m gonna get me one…… or at least two out of three games! LFGM
Gagnon had a game in AAA last week where he retired the first 21 batters and back to the bigs he comes. Now, he is a great baseball player by common man standards, but he does not belong in the big leagues, even in a mop up role. Leaving him out there for 4 HR was brutal, but this is not a guy that they are invested in.
Diaz is still completely lost and does not belong on the mound in anything close to high leverage. Yeah he got an out, but walking the leadoff hitter, on 4 pitches no less, with a 2 run lead is a cardinal sin. Callaway is as lost as Diaz.
They did win the game, which is all that matters now, and kudos to the bats and especially Pete and Amed for raking. They really need a sweep in KC with the pitching match-ups, but 2 is an absolute must.
Somebody told Gagnon before he went in that it was a home run derby.
How Mickey to let that game evolve to having the tieing run AB with Home Run Diaz pitching is beyond me.And this was a must win game if there ever was one. Once he walked McCann on 4 pitches I am sure everybody who was watching were assuming the long ball. Mickey is gone at the end of the season, playoffs or not. Gagnon should be gone sooner.
The ending was nearly another nightmare, but there are a few bright notes I’d like to point out –
Lagares is hitting!!!
Julio Teheran’s hold on us is clearly over.
Amed Rosario looks like a very different player now than he did earlier in the season on both sides of the ball.
Stroman is the best fielding pitcher I’ve seen in a Mets uniform since Darling. He’s a cat out there!
In terms of significance, how about the game of 9/3/19 against the Nats? The Metsies were leading 5-2 going into the bottom of the 8th. The Nats scored 9 runs in the last 2 innings, including a 7 spot in the bottom of the 9th.
Other than one of the games in 2007 and/or 2008 when the Phillies strangled the Mets (or, alternatively, the Mets c h o k e d), I can recall few games that felt more like the Mets being staked through the heart