Eduardo Escobar became just the 11th player in Mets history to hit for the cycle, as he drove in six runs and scored three more to lead the Mets to an 11-5 win over the Padres Monday night in San Diego.
Things started early for Escobar, as he delivered a two-run single in the first inning, helping the Mets to a 3-0 lead before the Padres came to back. He doubled in the fourth inning and scored on a Brandon Nimmo single. Then he hit a two-run homer in the eighth to put the Mets up, 7-2. And after the Padres looked to make it a game with a three-run eighth inning, Escobar hit a standup, two-run triple to right to get the hardest part of the cycle in his final at-bat.
The big night for Escobar pushed a terrific outing by Carlos Carrasco to the back burner. Carrasco gave the Mets a deep outing, as he threw 7 IP without a walk and had 10 Ks. The win raised Carrasco’s record to 7-1 and lowered his ERA to 3.51 on the year. Right now he’s a darkhorse candidate for an All-Star berth.
The only bad part of the night came in the eighth inning, when Buck Showalter went to Joely Rodriguez. The Mets were hoping to get through the game without using any of their key relievers and the Padres had two lefty hitters coming to bat. But Rodriguez allowed two runners to reach base before he was removed for Drew Smith, who promptly served up a 3-run homer. The two runs charged to Rodriguez upped his ERA to 5.30 for the season. Of course, ERA isn’t the end-all stat for relievers. But maybe Gary Cohen will look at his ERA before going on and on about what a fine job Rodriguez has done this year. No one’s suggesting that ERA is the only thing that matters for a reliever. But let’s not worship a guy with an ERA over five, either. He’s given up a run in eight outings so far this season.
The Mets finished the game with 11 runs and 16 hits. You can’t tell much of anything from one game, especially one where the opponent’s starting pitcher laid an egg. But it felt like a step down in competition from the Dodgers. The Padres are playing without their best player and still have a 33-22 record, which is admirable. Let’s see if they show the same fight in the last two games that the Mets did in the last two games of the Dodgers series.
I d say my 7-3 road trip is still very much on the table. Maybe 8-2 at this rate.
Every win something historic or magical seems to happen. What are we missing? Perfect game? 4 homer game. 21 strikeouts. 12 double plays. Who knows but with this team its all possible.
Escobar has climbed back and his numbers again appear respectable for a middle of the order hitter. I think that having him and J.D. Davis behind Marte, Lindor and Alonso is big.
Nido continues to get hits and his batting average is creeping upwards but his OPS is still abysmal. I think the Mets should be having talks about Alvarez.
Gut Reaction: the Mets have an explosive offense and they are a hitting machine. Escobar join the party and hit for the cycle. In his last 15 games he has a OPS of .904 with 15 RBI’s and 3 homeruns.
Carrasco pitched a gem. Rodriguez didn’t do his job and Smith couldn’t bail him out. But Escobar and the offense were the bondsmen. LGM
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/trevor-rosenthal-showcase-mlb-clubs-free-agent-reliever-closer.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
Gotta assume Mets will be there.
An enjoyable game. The Mets were relentless. Leadoff hitter reached base almost every inning, and in the one inning they didn’t, the second batter did.
These series seem to be about piling up innings for the opponents’ bullpens. Getting to Buehler early, then Urias really helped. 43 pitches for Snell’s first inning bode well last night. Let’s face it, second-tier relievers are going to have a tough time getting zeroes against the Mets.
I went into this game concerned for Nimmo and McNeil. In the past they would hit a swoon and be gone for two weeks… Both showed good signs of life last night. JD might be building something special. Escobar would just bolster an already formidable lineup. Tacking on runs late in games is essential to a good season.
I want to see Joele get reps. He could be effective in a limited role, just as can Shreve. I was irked by Smith leaving a breaking ball over the heart of the plate to Voit… the only pitch he could handle… just dumb. Everything off the edge Voit was flailing at… why come in?
But I do see the Mets’ bullpen coming around. I would consider moving Peterson out there to give a LH presence. I can see him being pretty nasty for one or two innings.
BTW: I turn 70 today (don’t recommend it)… Can’t believe I saw Roger Craig’s first pitch in 1962, Jay Hook’s first win nine games later, and am still watching… this might be the best season of all… fun (almost) every night!
Well, Happy Birthday!
FWIW – my mom told me that life was fine thru your 80s. She said no one should live in their 90s. So, there’s that.
Happy birthday Wobbit, many more!