The Mets scored in five of their first six innings, beating the Reds, 10-2, and sweeping the three-game series. The Mets are now 15-2 in their last 17 games and head into an off day Thursday with a 73-39 record.
For the game, the Mets pounded out 13 hits and added four walks and two HBP. Newcomers Daniel Vogelbach and Tyler Naquin again played big roles, combining for four hits, three runs and four RBIs. They both had a double and Naquin added a home run, a 439-foot shot to right field. Naquin is now batting .367 as a Met, with seven of his 11 hits going for extra-bases.
Francisco Lindor scored in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Jeff McNeil, the 13th-straight game he’s scored a run, tying a franchise record for the Mets. McNeil later doubled in a run in the sixth, giving him a 13-game hitting streak. McNeil is 22-54 (.407) with 10 extra-base hits in the streak.
Taijuan Walker made his first start since being knocked out early against the Braves. He began the game with a 6-pitch inning and he ended up throwing six innings and picked up his 10th win of the year and is a perfect 6-0 this year in day games. Seth Lugo, Trevor Williams and Adonis Medina closed things out with a scoreless inning apiece.
The Mets are now 38-15 in their last 53 games with the Reds.
The Mets could have easily won 110 games in 86. They lost five of six against the Phillies in their last two series with them.
The road to the World Series title is much more difficult than it was in 86. Mets need to finish with a top two record to get a bye. Even with that, they will have to win a tough divisional round against a team like the Padres and then the Dodgers to get to the World Series and then have to get past the Yankees or Astros.
Let’s just hope that deGrom or Scherzer do not get hurt.
Gut Reaction:. “I’ve seen that movie too.” But not “Players are acting surprised” because they are not.
Good starting pitching, spotless bullpen, stellar offense with ten runs, 13 hits and 7-14 RISP resulting In a six game win streak.
Next are the Phillies. They should take the series. But maybe they will have a nine game winning streak instead. The Phillies will the tough. They are playing good baseball. LGM
This is a very solid ball club and they’ve gotten little offensively from the catchers position. As much as I like Canha, I think we thought we were getting a better hitter. He hit 17 HRs last year and 26 a few years before. Buck appropriately described it as a grind and now they face the Phillies who are on a roll. Feel good throwing Max, Jake and Bassitt and then starting Cookie, Walker, Petersen unless Max is ready, and then Jake. Holy shit. LGM
Don’t forget the doubleheader on August 20th. Peterson pitched tonight in Syracuse and didn’t get knocked around too badly in giving up four singles and a double allowing four runs in the first inning, but no walks and only threw 34 pitches, on short rest. If AAA played on Mondays, he would be lined up to pitch Monday on regular rest and the. One of the double header games. Problem is, there isn’t. Hence, probably another two or three inning tune up on Sunday and have him on full rest for Saturday, August 20th’s doubleheader.
That means Cookie missed the Braves series in New York and by pitching Sunday against Philly will miss it again and he will be first up in Philadelphia after the Braves.