The Mets got a strong pitching performance from Rick Porcello and just enough timely hits to earn a 3-1 win over the Nationals Wednesday night. It was the 150th career victory for Porcello.
After starting his Mets career with two disastrous outings, Porcello gave up a run after facing just four batters and it looked like we were in for more of the same. But he fielded a line drive up the middle to end the first and it’s like that shocked him into a groove.
He ended up allowing just one run over seven innings and induced 10 ground ball outs in the process. His pitch total was so low that he could have gone out for the eighth inning but with a day off tomorrow, manager Luis Rojas opted to use Seth Lugo for a six-out save. Lugo retired all six batters he faced.
With three starters still out for the Mets, Rojas opted to put out his best defensive lineup, which included a double play combo of Andres Gimenez and Luis Guillorme and newly-acquired Billy Hamilton in center field. And the Mets responded with a strong defensive night. In perhaps a bit of a surprise, the best defensive play was turned in by 3B J.D. Davis, who made a nice stop and threw out a runner from his knees.
But all of the pitching and defense would have been for naught if not for some offense. The Mets scored in the first inning when Dominic Smith hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Brandon Nimmo. An RBI single by Guillorme put the Mets back on top to stay in the fourth inning and Smith added an RBI double in the seventh, again scoring Nimmo.
Hamilton took the collar but reached base on a fielder’s choice and wound up with his 300th career steal. Nimmo finished with three walks and two runs scored. He ran his reached base safely streak to 28 games. The Mets’ career record in the category is 47 by John Olerud in 1998-99.
It was a nice win the old fashioned way with timely hitting, strong pitching and great defense. Can you imagine if JD can actually handle the hot corner? Squirrel goes to 2B and Hamilton plays CF. One day at a time.
Gut Reaction: this was a crisp, well played game. Porcello finally pitched well.
Now Wacca is in the hot seat when Stroman gets back. (?)
The way that Lugo pitched convinces me that he should be the closer.
Metsense,
I would add Matz to the hot seat starters, he should not be granted a rotation spot…he needs to earn it.
I am surprised to see Porcello up to 150 career wins. We know wins are not the greatest stat for pitchers, but you have to pitch in the bigs quite a bit to get to 150.
Billy H is interesting only as a 5th outfielder…. He’s pretty much Juan Lagares, as an offensive player…. with better base stealing cred.
I don’t get the excitement with Guillorme and Hamilton, apart from being bench pieces. Hamilton has already “proven” his offense……. I think Guillorme can improve, so I’m not as negative about him. For now, Lineups that include both might be necessary…and defensively stronger…but they are not hopeful
I feel like J.D. Davis has to play third base or DH. He’s just too much of a liability in the outfield, but his bat is too good to keep out of the lineup. And he showed last night that he is more than capable of handling himself at the hot corner.