The Mets broke open a tie game with a 10-run sixth inning en route to a 13-4 win over the Pirates in the first of a four-game set at Citi Field Friday night.
Brandon Nimmo got the big rally going in the sixth inning with a single. Francisco Lindor drew a walk and Dominic Smith put the Mets ahead with an RBI single. Pete Alonso followed with a 3-run homer. The next two runs scored without a hit, as Jose Peraza got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Nimmo followed with a walk. Then Lindor capped the inning with a homer, the first grand slam for the Mets this season.
Jonathan Villar hit homers from both sides of the plate, the first coming as a lefty in the third inning to tie the game at 1-1 and the second as a righty in the seventh inning, estimated at 437 feet for the Mets’ final run.
Taijuan Walker started and while he didn’t get the win, the Mets upped their record in Walker starts to 13-3. Aaron Loup pitched a scoreless sixth to earn the win.
3 more of those please.
Jake, Walker and Stroman have certainly kept up their part of the bargain. Glad to see Walker selected as the Mets allstar replacement as has certainly earned it. These game highlights were great to watch and I know many of us were thinking “save some of those runs.” The Bucs are a team we need to crush over the next 6 games. Can’t wait for the double dip today.
It seems that all these games really come down to the late innings, after the starters have done their thing. While the Mets are a little better than most, starting pitchers are, for the most part, all capable of holding their opponents to two or three runs until the 6th inning. Most games are decided after that.
The reason the Mets should be able to dominate the Pirates, for example, is that the Bucs do not have reliable arms in the bullpen that can throw three or four zeroes. Given that the Mets do, they should be able to win almost every game. If they can manage to put some crooked numbers on the board earlier in the game, it means greater ease using their own pen, and getting into the weaker pens that much earlier… easier games.
The goal should be 7-0 in these games.