The Mets jumped on top early then used their Spencer Strider “lucky” offense to open a big lead against Zack Wheeler and cruise to a 6-0 win over the Phillies Sunday afternoon at Citi Field. It was their 16th shutout of the season and they limited the powerful Phillies offense to just two runs, one earned, over the three-game set.
Brandon Nimmo led off the bottom of the first with a double off the orange line on the wall, missing a homer by just inches. Francisco Lindor drove him home with a bloop hit and the Mets had the early lead.
Unlike Saturday, the offense gave the starting pitcher a little more room to work with, as the Mets tallied four runs in the fourth inning, on four walks and a hit, with all the runs scoring with two outs. None of the hits were particularly well struck but it was nice to see the team put up the crooked number against Wheeler.
Chris Bassitt cruised early but he had to pitch out of big trouble in both the fourth and fifth innings, the latter of which ended his day. But with his five scoreless frames, Bassitt ran his shutout streak to 24 innings.
Trevor Williams relieved Bassitt in the sixth, threw two innings and lowered his ERA to 1.16 in 31 IP as a reliever. Mychal Givens covered the eighth and Buck Showalter brought on Joely Rodriguez in the ninth, even with all of the RHB due up.
Rodriguez faced five batters, four of those righties, with three of the RHB reaching safely to load the bases. The one lefty he faced struck out. In his last 21 PA versus LHB, Rodriguez has limited them to 1-17 with 9 Ks.
Righty Alec Bohm was next up with the bases loaded, prompting Showalter to bring on Adam Ottavino, who got Bohm to fan for the game’s final out. The win upped the Mets’ record this year against the Phillies to 11-4.
Daniel Vogelbach hit his third HR as a Met, a solo shot, giving him 11 RBIs in 18 games since being acquired from the Pirates.
It’s games like this that make Sandy Alderson weep for baseball. Where are all the homeruns? What’s with all the bleeders, parachutes and excuse me hits that add up simply because batters put wood to the ball? What kind of stupid concept is this?
It was absolutely humorous watching Bassitt and McCann trying to agree on a pitch during one at bat to Rhys Hopkins. Poor Hopkins stood in there for thirty seconds as Bassitt kept shaking off McCann and McCann went through some of the seven or eight pitches in Bassitt’s repertoire. I can’t wait for the pitch clock next year to see how this works for Bassitt. At one point, I looked up at my kitchen’s clock and almost two hours into the game we were still in the fifth inning.
Great homestand, 9-2 and one of the losses could have been avoided if Marte scored in the ninth inning. Now time to take the show on the road for ten games, eight of them against the fiercest rivals at their house. The Braves will be fired up and I’m a bit worried about Carasco who does better against lefties and much better at Citifield. The Braves are full of righties and at home. Going 4-4 before they get to the Bronx would work for me.
Gut Reaction: Another series win. A very consistent team. Clutch two out hitting resulting in 4-10 RISP and a win. McNeil had a heads-up play scoring on a Phillies mental error. Pitching, Pitching, Pitching cooled up a hot Phillies team.
Guillorme injury and Escobar nagging injury is an opportunity to call up Vientos.
Let’s split in Atlanta, 2-2. The Braves are feeling the pressure and have to win this series. A split would take off four games from the schedule and the Braves need to gain ground. Let’s not let it happen. LGM
I don’t understand Vientos talk.
He doesn’t play 3B in the minors.
My guess is Guillorme IL for sure — at least two weeks out — and Escobar looks seriously compromised. He can only hit from the side he can’t hit from!
I’d be tempted to IL both and bring up Baty and a glove (the Korean guy, I guess). Must have a backup for Lindor on the roster (if Escobar out).
It is worrisome that Baty, too, gets bad marks for his defense.
Be interesting how they handle this.
Vientos He has 252 at 3B with 41 this year. That is the position he plays for the majority of the time ,
Career- wise and this season.
Seems like he’s playing 1B & DH mostly these days, especially with Baty around. The outfield experiment didn’t take, I gather.
I know that he’s played some 3B — 40 games this season — but nobody seems to think he’s good at it. I think it’s a significant problem for him.
I love his bat and I’ve followed him closely since the Mets signed him.
I just don’t see the organization throwing him out there at 3B — particularly during Braves, Phils stretch. Honestly, I think they are worried about putting even Baty out there.
To me, the only guy Vientos could conceivably replace would be Ruf.
But I’ve been wrong before!
The biggest thing Vientos has in this is that he’s already on the 40-man roster. But the Mets have quite a few guys they could cut without losing any sleep.
Sam Clay
Patrick Mazeika/Michael Perez
Khalil Lee/Nick Plummer
If you think Mike Puma’s connected, he claims Vientos hasn’t even been discussed.
Appears the Mets aren’t comfortable plugging in Vientos’ defense.