Francisco Lindor homered from both sides of the plate, part of a four-homer attack, to back the strong pitching of Chris Bassitt to lead the Mets to a 10-3 win over the Diamondbacks in the team’s home opener Friday afternoon at Citi Field.
Lindor hit a 2-run shot in the fifth inning and he delivered the second in a back-to-back homer with Starling Marte in the eighth. Marte’s shot was a 3-run blast. The Mets’ second and third hitters combined for five hits, two walks, six runs and six RBIs. The other homer in the game came from Robinson Cano, who produced his first extra-base hit of the season with an opposite field shot in the fourth inning.
Bassitt hurled 6 IP and allowed just 1 ER, a solo homer. It was one of just two hits he allowed in an outing that also included two walks and six strikeouts. Chasen Shreve struck out the side in the seventh inning and Drew Smith pitched a hitless eighth. Sean Reid-Foley had a tough outing, allowing two runs in the ninth for the final score.
The D’Backs are probably the worst team in the National League and this was the Mets’ 11th-straight win over Arizona in Citi Field. But it’s important to win games against the bottom dwellers and the Mets are taking care of business in that department. Today’s win upped their season record to 6-2.
I came up with a comp I haven’t seen anywhere else.
Bassitt reminds me of when the Mets got Bobby Ojeda in 1986.
They already had Gooden, Darling, Fernandez. It kind of flew under the radar.
But all season long, he pitched well and won games for us. Big games.
It’s not that I think they have similarities as pitchers.
But, yeah, he feels like a very big piece. I’m impressed.
Jimmy
The Ojeda comp was mentioned in the Gut Reaction the last time he pitched.
Also:
Jankowski fits the Mets roster, the team’s needs, better than Dominick Smith.
Of course, Dom could prove me wrong and I’d be thrilled with that. But whether he hits or not, that’s not really what this team needs from a roster-building perspective.
At least this current group seems to realize that you can’t put Smith in the outfield.
Also, I don’t care: I still like Foley’s arm & demeanor. Will be good to have him nearby in AAA.
The value of Jeff McNeil’s defensive flexibiltiy is something to be prized. We lose two very good outfielders and we can at least through Jeff out there. I hope they keep him healthy.
I, too, am impressed with Jankowski. Great speed; baseball smarts; good defense; can put his bat on the ball.
In the right deal, trading Dom Smith for relief pitching would be fine.
Hopefully, McNeil 2021 is gone forever!
Gut Reaction: a good team dominated an inferior team in this game.
It is expected for the Mets to win two of three against Arizona. Watching this game, and how the Mets won, makes the Mets odd on favorites to sweep. (which is very difficult no matter how bad the opponent is).
Jankowski is seizing his opportunity but there isn’t any room on the post April active roster. This is too bad for him because he earned the chance but remember McKinney burned out last year so beware.
I agree about Jankowski. More valuable than Dom. But I’m partial to speed and defense. I’m just tired of waiting for Dom to wake up… I gotta believe that Billy Eppler is formulating a plan to move Dom, but at this point, has value is all speculation with two half-seasons of production and one very long season of non-production. Still, someone values his potential and slick-looking first base glove… and still young and cheap. Make it so, Epp.
And the problem is that playing McNeil in the OF means playing Cano in the IF, a lose there. I’d be good with no Dom, Cano as backup 1B until he implodes, and go from there. Neither figures into the long-range needs of the team.
Conversely, JD Davis is a bonafide major league hitter, and still will get better if he gets the reps. More value to other teams.
Gut reaction:
Love to see Lindor hitting the ball.
And Marte’s power stroke.
Alonso looks like a better version of himself… more professional hitter.
Bassitt is the real steal… why didn’t more teams want this guy?
GKR mentioned Drew Smith being the replacement for Castro. Let’s hope so. We need that shut down guy in the late innings… dependability foremost! … don’t trust Trevor May.
A glorious day at Citi Field. Steve Cohen has to be happy with his purchase and the direction the team has taken. We could have been waiting several years for these changes to bear fruit.