Marcus Stroman gave up just an unearned run in 6.2 IP, while also contributing an RBI double, leading the Mets to a 6-2 win over the Padres Sunday afternoon and a split of the 4-game series.
The Padres put runners on base in six of the seven innings against Stroman but were able to get on the board in just the sixth inning. Stroman helped himself with seven strikeouts and he also received some good defense, including a great double play by Brandon Drury in the fourth inning, where he went to the ground to field the ball, tagged third with his glove and then threw from his knees to get the runner at first.
The Mets had 10 hits, including two homers – a solo shot by Dominic Smith and a two-run blast by James McCann.
New York flies to Baltimore for a two-game series before returning home to host the Padres in a three-game set.
Drury is doing some good things for this club.
As important a series split as one can imagine. Chance to go 6-3 on the road trip then Padres and revenge against the cubs at home.
It was a nice win and another great job by Stroman. McCann looks like he’s finally breaking out. Let’s sweep the O’s!
Two take aways from the series:
1. With the Padres reasonably healthy and the Mets banged up, it showed that the Mets pitching is good enough to carry the load against anyone with some nice glove work and a little bit of offense. This is the test that tells us where the Mets really are.
2. The Padres are a very good team and pretty balanced. You need to play well to beat them. The difficult questions will need to be resolved soon as Guillorme and McNeil will be coming back in consecutive weeks and Conforto after that. Who will sit? The Bench Mob has been productive and truth be told, even better than some of the starters were.
Gut Reaction: Stroman pitched well and I was surprised that Rojas didn’t pinch hit for him in the 7th inning after 89 pitches and only a 3-1 at the time like he usually does. I am glad he had the confidence in him.
Dom and McCann are hitting and is making the offense respectable.
The road split was an accomplishment against a very good team.
A very gratifying serIes… and one that clearly paints a picture of a new Mets team. DeGrom the real deal as a stopper, and Sromna comes through to show his mettle.
Honestly, I was underwhelmed by the Padres. Except for their obvious two stars, I could not see why they were so high in the standings. Of course great pitching does tend to have that effect. They have a nice infield defensively, and Tatis is a joy to watch every day, but their lineup does not seem that formidable to me. I expect the Dodgers will pull away through the summer… just too much pitching and grinders up and down the lineup.
Mets fans may scoff but the Padres were playing without two starters. Trent Grisham and his 156 OPS+ was replaced by Tucupita Marcano and his 43 OPS+. And Austin Nola and his 104 OPS+ was replaced by Victor Caratini and his 86. Also, neither Hosmer nor Pham played in all of the games. For most of the year, the Padres were featuring a lineup where all 8 hitters were above average, including 2 playing at star levels. This series for the most part had three below average guys in there, including two sinkholes, and one of the star hitters missing. And while Snell and Paddack have the recognizable names, the Mets missed two starters with ERAs half of what those veterans have.
Mets were playing short handed as well though as we all know.
Which is why I prefaced my comment with, “Mets fans may scoff…”
We all feel like Conforto, McNeil and the rest should be better than what they did before they went on the IL. But the Padres were missing guys who actually were performing.
I also alluded the Padres strengthens in my 6/3 post. Go to BR and look up the Dodgers who are better than the Padres! Then take a look at the Giants, third best team in the NL. All three are better than the Mets present roster. Their OPS+ and ERA+ comparisons and won/lost records show that. Early indications are that the Mets have to win their division to make the post season. This split was a means to do this and it was an accomplishment.