After struggling offensively for most of the Braves’ series, the Mets pounded out 11 hits, five of which went for extra-bases, and added five walks. The end result was a 7-2 win over the Phillies Friday night in Philadelphia.
It looked like it was going to be a pitcher’s duel, with Chris Bassitt squaring off against Aaron Nola. But neither pitcher had their “A” stuff. The Mets scored a run in the first and added two more in the third. All of the runs were driven in by Pete Alonso, including a two-run homer just inside the fair pole in left field.
The Mets added another run in the fifth inning, executing a double steal, with Starling Marte stealing home.
Bassitt pitched in and out of trouble and finally broke in the bottom of the fifth, giving up two runs to end his streak of not allowing an earned run. Despite a high pitch count, Bassitt came back and gave the team another inning in the sixth, an important inning given Saturday’s doubleheader.
Adam Ottavino came on in the seventh with the Phillies having the top of the order up. He put two runners on base but did not allow a run. Joely Rodriguez pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, retiring a lefty and bringing his streak to 1-21 against LHB. Buck Showalter opted to use Trevor May in the ninth and May responded with a rare easy frame, needing just 10 pitches to retire the side.
Brett Baty delivered a two-run single in the seventh inning and continues to look like he belongs in the majors. It’s going to be very curious to see how Showalter handles things when Eduardo Escobar returns from the IL.
Eduardo Escobar = Wally Pipp
Gut Reaction :The Mets handled the Phillies and Nola easily last night thanks to Pete Alonso with his 3 RBI’s and home run. Pete you set the tone and he owns the Phillies. It was gutty performance by Bassitt. He is a good, professional pitcher. Baty has been impressive with the bat and he also holds his own defensively but he needs to work on the defense more. When Escobar gets back he will be a good platoon with Baty. When Guillorme back, he will be relegated to be a defensive replacement for the majority of the time.
My concern moving forward with Baty — and obviously we’re extremely early in this — is that Buck will turn this into a strict platoon. Short-term, maybe defensible; long-term, not to the benefit of Baty or the Mets.
And again, so much remains to be seen.
I do feel that the strict platoon likely undermined JD and Dom to a certain extent.
Escobar needs to dust off his 2B glove and try to get some innings as an all-around utility guy.