The Mets swept a doubleheader from the Rockies Thursday afternoon, winning the opener, 1-0, and the second game by a 4-2 margin. The Mets are now 24-20 on the season and how this M*A*S*H unit is four games over .500 is nothing short of remarkable.
Marcus Stroman and Edwin Diaz combined on a 3-hit shutout in the opener. The Mets only got three hits themselves, but one of them was a homer leading off the third inning by Jose Peraza. After giving up 5 ER in his start against the Rays on May 16, Stroman now has allowed just 2 ER in his last 12 IP. His win today was his first since April 18 and evened his record at 4-4.
The second game must have been like manna for those who long for the days where homers didn’t rule the land. The Mets scored their four runs on a GDP, a bloop single and two bases-loaded walks. Four runs is still below the average rpg of NL teams (4.33) this year but it ended a streak of five straight games where the Mets had scored three runs or fewer. The win upped the Mets’ record to 18-4 when they score at least four runs in a game.
I’m enjoying watching this team try to scrape together wins. It may because I like fundamental baseball… good defense and good pitching, opportunistic offense. These games are right up my alley. Homeruns are too easy . Still, a little contact with the bases loaded would go a long way… way too often the Mets squander chances to break the games open, making the bullpen job easier.
So far Luis Rojas’s formula for winning games with scotch tape and bubble gum while undermanned is holding up. Let’s hope they can compete with Atlanta this weekend. Losing to the Mets has to be frustrating for any team these days. Psst… pitch around Freddy and pitch inside to Riley…
If someone told you that Nido would be the most dangerous bat in the lineup, Jacob Barnes was getting save opportunities and that one of the starting outfielders was 0 for the season, what place would you expect them to be in? I really don’t know how they are doing this. Can you imagine where they would be if the offense was healthy and producing even half what was expected?
How? They ve allowed the 2nd fewest runs in baseball (1 less than thr Padres although in 7 fewer games) and they ve gone 22-10 against sub .500 teams. Plus they have a top 5 defense believe it or not. Since most teams are under .500 that will play. 20-5 when scoring 4 or more runs doesnt hurt either. Be thankful we ve got Colorado and Arizona on the schedule during this stretch. That doesn’t hurt either either.
And why play Maybin? I’d rather see Lee out there. At least he may have some upside.
An enjoyable afternoon watching two quick games. I’m liking this 7 inning games for double headers; makes life easier for the fan, and it worked out perfectly for a team scrapping together a pitching staff that needs to support a feeble offense.
Dom Smith is hurt. I don’t think he’s helping the team with a bad knee that doesn’t let him drive the ball. James McCann is stroking finally. Lindor is just lost completely: taking fastballs in the wheelhouse and going after pitches away. He drilled Marquez on a line drive, so exit velo is still there.
Gut Reaction: Peraza was the hitting hero driving in the go ahead run a the second game and a homerun for the only run in the first game. Rojas made the right moves in the bullpen to secure the sweep. Lucchesi pitched struggled but the results were very good. That’s two games in a row that kept the team in the game. A series win against Atlanta would be wonderful and hopeful.
The Atlanta tries will be a litmus test. Nobody wants to play the Mets because they are a wounded animal… dangerous in a way but a team like the Braves would get no credit for beating them. And yet this injury period is actually helping the team in that it is building chemistry… and Luis Rojas is getting credit for nursing the team through this.
It’s also safe to assume that the Mets may not be at full strength for the entire season. Carrasco and Syndergaard may never get there, McNeil, Conforto, Alonso, Davis, Pillar and Smith will need time to regain their timing and rhythm, and much tougher stretches of the schedule for the bullpen are still before them. So stay tuned.
Fortunately, all teams will struggle with adversity in this rebound season. Luckily, the Mets have already found some valuable fingers for the dyke… I love Peraza, appreciate Villar, am even rooting for Maybin, though I don’t want to hear what a great CF he is… he is not.
Sorry… that was: the Atlanta “series” will be the litmus test.