Starling Marte had three hits, including a double and a triple, and three runs scored as the Mets defeated the Mariners, 5-4, at rainy Citi Field Saturday night.
The game was delayed for over an hour due to rain but once it got underway, Marte made his presence known. In the first inning, he hit a ball into the gap that ended up a triple thanks to replay, which overturned the out call at third base. Marte scored on a single by Francisco Lindor to give the Mets the early lead.
In the third inning, Marte doubled to put runners on second and third. He scored the second run of the inning on Jeff McNeil’s sacrifice fly. In the fifth inning, Marte reached base on a FC when the RF dropped the ball but got an out at second base. He scored on a ball that Pete Alonso absolutely smoked, racing home on the double to left field. Marte singled in the seventh inning, stole second and reached third on an error. But Lindor and Alonso both struck out to leave him stranded at third base.
Chris Bassitt got the start and seemed poised to get his fifth win of the season. But after a tough fifth inning which left his pitch count in the 90s, Buck Showalter sent him out for the sixth. He hit the first batter and next man up singled. Bassitt fought back to strike out the next two hitters. But the Mariners got their first run on a bloop hit and Showalter brought in Seth Lugo.
Lugo loaded the bases but got out of the sixth inning with no additional damage. Showalter sent Lugo back out for the seventh and he gave up back-to-back one-out singles. With lefty Jesse Winker due up, Showalter went to the pen to bring in LHP Chasen Shreve. Uncharacteristically, Shreve couldn’t locate his pitches. And he ended up serving up a game-tying homer.
But Shreve got off the hook when Patrick Mazeika, who struggled all night getting on the same page with the pitchers, delivered a leadoff homer in the bottom of the seventh. On a night when the Mets once again had several well-struck balls that failed to go out, Mazeika’s blast to right field got out without much difficulty.
Edwin Diaz struck out the side in the ninth inning, getting Winker for the final out.
The Mets seem to be winning more with guile than style. It seems that the majority of the starters are just not hitting, but they keep winning. Lindor’s hit was an infield drawn in single that would have been a 4-3 in regular defense. Escobar is cold, Lindor is cold, Cahna is cold, the catchers are cold, Marte is semi-cold and Nimmo is cooling off. Why isn’t Davis playing more? However, they make their hits count and their outs count to keep adding W’s. Mazeika’s HR was a bullet down the line, and we all know his contributions will be few overall. If the team as a whole can start gelling, then a long win streak will help pad the division lead somewhat.
Robby Ray goes tomorrow and we can expect the righties in there and taking lots of pit hes to get his pitch count up.
Mets battling to not regress. Still in a hitting funk. Pitching still decent, if vulnerable. Buck tried to squeeze By with Bassitt… that’s cool. Last two games feels reminicent of last season. Will Escobar or Smith ever break through? Will Lindor ever get hot?
Gut Reaction: that was an unlikely hero, Patrick Mazeika.
Marte’s speed was the difference in this game. Lindor is contributing each day but I would like him just start hitting with authority. Bassitt had a gutsy performance. I like Buck sticking with him. Diaz was dominant again. The streak is alive! LGM
My prediction is that the streak will live until they get to San Francisco. Just what my gut tells me: it seems like nothing good has happened out there since 2000.
Another win in the books and a chance today to take another series today. Still not a fan of Mazeika even with his game winning HR and believe we need to pick up another catcher as Nido is likely not poised to be the full time receiver. The strength of our starters is tied to the working relationship with their catcher. McCann was also not hitting much but the pitchers loved throwing to him. We have a bunch of cold hitters and this is where their hitting coach has to earn his paycheck. They are certainly being saved by excellent defense in all positions. Corrasco throws for the series win this afternoon. Happy to take this one win at a time.
I don’t know if I will ever fully trust Diaz, and maybe that can be said for any reliever, but right now he is downright filthy.
Today’s game fairly important psychologically. If the Mets squeeze out a series victory against a Cy Young winner, they hold their division lead and put another brick on the foundation of their new team. Phillies are hot, Braves warming up… winning frustrates those teams. It’s what good teams do… they have to beat middle-of-the-pack teams, especially at home. If starter number 4 can hold serve today… h-u-g-e.