Jacob deGrom didn’t have his best stuff but he combined with four Mets relievers to pitch the Mets to a 4-2 win over the Marlins Sunday afternoon at Citi Field. The win gave the Mets the series victory over the first-place Marlins.
It was a good first inning for deGrom but he had great trouble throwing strikes in the second. At one point he started looking at his middle finger, which caused the Mets to send the trainer out to the mound. He was able to stay in the game and ended up struggling through 5 IP, allowing 2 ER, both of which came on a homer by Jesus Aguilar in the fifth.
For the third straight day, the Mets asked the bullpen to give them four innings. Neither Jared Hughes nor Dellin Betances looked particularly good but they got the job done. Betances threw 10 pitches, with one registering 94 and none of the others topping 92. But he got a double play and emerged unscathed.
Edwin Diaz came out for the eighth inning, the first time he pitched with a lead after three straight low-leverage appearances. And he looked great. His fastball had life and his slider had bite. But despite how good he looked, the Marlins put runners on second and third before he ended the threat. Diaz ended up striking out the side.
Seth Lugo came on to pitch the ninth, working in back-to-back games for the first time this year. He allowed a one-out walk but got a double play to end the game and get his third save of the season.
Andres Gimenez had a strong game, making good plays in the field and going 3-4 with three runs scored. He used his legs to great effect to get the Mets’ last run, as he beat out a drag bunt, went first to third on a single and scored on a pop to shallow center field. He also stole a base in the game. Meanwhile, Amed Rosario went 0-4 with three strikeouts and failed to make a play in the field that went for a hit but could have been ruled an error. When Robinson Cano comes back, it’s far from certain who the Mets will start at shortstop.
Brandon Nimmo also reached base three times, extending his reached base streak to 30 games. He had a walk, a HBP and an RBI single to left field. Nimmo now has a .433 OBP. J.D. Davis also reached base three times with two walks and a single, which extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
It was a slog for Jake especially in the second when he had issues finding the strike zone though the ump didn’t help, but Jake found a way to get out of a bases loaded jam. Gimenez had a big game and continues to show polish to his game that Rosario still hasn’t shown three plus years into his career— as Amed continues to swing at everything, but don’t worry Rosario will hit lead off vs Corbin tomorrow because the front office is clueless. Another big game for Davis while Pete regressed from yesterday’s game and continues to play wretched defense. Hughes was solid and Diaz looked great vs three of the five hitters he faced, but nearly gave up a homer to tie it and if Mattingly had pinch run for his backup catcher he would have given up a run. Nimmo on base three times yet his manager called for him to bunt lol. Thank goodness for Harrison and Villar this series.
The Mets got a W that they absolutely had to have. They all count the same no matter how pretty or ugly. Diaz is defining himself as a mixture of Wilfredo Benitez and Johnny Franco.
That’s an interesting comp.
I feel like I know where you’re going and why you chose those two but I still don’t see it being apt. Benitez was great in your garden-variety save but seemed to fall apart in the biggest of big moments. I don’t have the numbers handy but if he had a 95% Save Percentage the blown saves would have come against the Braves. Diaz has been an equal opportunity arsonist, blowing saves against teams good and bad. Franco left us holding our breath but he was a guy getting everything out of his ability and the nervousness came from him punching above his weight. Can he really get Bonds out with the slop he’s throwing up to the plate?
To me, the Diaz comparison should center around Neil Allen. Both guys were essentially two-pitch closers who needed both pitches working to succeed. Allen threw hard but it was straight as could be and if the curve wasn’t working, hitters would just sit on the fastball and beat him up. Diaz had a better fastball but we saw what happened last year when his slider wasn’t particularly sharp.
Yes, you are correct. Franco only because he seldom did things the easy way. I am forever grateful for Neil Allen, who played a key role in the last Met championship by facilitating the acquisition of Keith Hernandez.
Gut Reaction: worry and hope
Worry that deGrom’s blister problem is minor.
Hope that Gimenez is the real deal. He brings much to the table.
As David says, the home plate ump had an off game.
In the chatter, we mentioned how Rosario doesn’t have a stolen base attempt in about as many times on base as Gimenez has, and Gimenez has 3 steals. It just appears in so many ways that Rosario was failed in the minors. He didn’t know how to run the bases when he came up. He doesn’t have steady defense. He doesn’t know how to read pitchers to steal a base. He doesn’t know how to read a pitch and hasn’t walked in 104 consecutive plate appearances; I didn’t think that was possible. It’s a shame because he has so much talent, but it isn’t completely his fault.
Pete Alonso is not a #3 hitter unless he is hitting 53 homeruns, and even then, he belongs at #5. Rosario is too talented to give up on, but his learning curve seems stalled. There’s no reason for anything to happen on the infield as Cano can take the DH spot from a cold Dom Smith.
I have an idea for a starter in Wednesday: Paul Sewald. He did well in an opener capacity last year and if he can just give them two innings, Shreve Chasen can go two, Gsellman two, and Wilson one, that gives you seven innings of righty/lefty looks.
Hmmm, would the Yankees do Clint Frazier for Dom Smith?
No Frazier can’t play defense and his plate discipline is so bad