Joey Lucchesi turned in the best performance for a Mets’ starting pitcher this season, throwing seven shutout innings to lead the Mets to a 7-0 win over the Giants Friday in San Francisco. The win gives the Mets a three-game winning streak and pushes their record to 14-7.
Making his first start in the majors in nearly two years, Lucchesi benefitted from some double plays early, as the Mets turned three twin killings on the night. But as the game went on, Lucchesi started piling up the strikeouts. Eight of the last 11 outs recorded by Lucchesi came via the whiff. He finished with 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB and 9 Ks.
Pete Alonso once again was the offensive star, as he homered and drove in four runs for the second straight game. His homer was to straightaway center field in the fifth inning, a two-run blast. He added a two-run single in the ninth. Alonso now has 10 HR and 23 RBIs on the season.
The Mets once again reached double-digit hits, pounding out 13 on the night. They went 5-9 with RISP. Five Mets had two-hit games, including Jeff McNeil, who also reached base with a HBP. McNeil has a .422 OBP. Daniel Vogelbach also had two hits and a walk and his OBP now sits at .409 for the year.
Brooks Raley relieved Lucchesi in the eighth inning and turned in his eighth consecutive scoreless appearance. Tommy Hunter closed it out in the ninth. With the win, the Mets moved to 7-1 on their 10-game West Coast swing.
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So the day after my comparison of the SP and BP, Lucchesi puts up a gem of a performance in SF. After all he has gone through to get back on a ML mound, I truly am happy for him.
Gut reaction: Lucchesi pitched a gem. Pre TJ surgery, he was a decent pitcher in 2018-19 with ERA’S of 4.08 and 4.18 as a starter for San Diego. I always felt that obtaining him in a trade was a good move for the Mets. Finally, maybe we’ll get some dividends. The Mets depleted staff will give Lucchesi an opportunity to show his wares. Last night he seized his opportunity!
Alonso is unconscious with “must see at bats”.
What a great first start back in the bigs for Lucchesi and just what we needed given that we have four starters on the sidelines. That we turned three DP should not come as a surprise as we have built a strong defensive team, especially across the infield. Alvarez was the only starter without a hit but he played a strong game behind the plate and that’s also what we really needed. When he gets his bat going he will be the HR bat that we still need. Can’t say enough about the player Nimmo has become and his catch in CF was another example of a ball that would have dropped past his glove at another time. Seems the SF starter was throwing batting practice at one point but these are the games you have to make the opposition pay and they did. It’s early but let the Braves hear our footsteps behind them! Peterson up next with a 4:05 start. Got to warm up the DVR.
Agree on Alvarez, who called the pitches (more fastballs!). Who would have thought that he would be better defensively than offensively to start his season in the majors?! Now, play him regularly to get his bat going!
Joey Lucchesi! Who’da thunk it? Congrats to him, capping off his long journey with a tremendous start and taking some heat off the bullpen as well.
The Mets continue to hit, and that’s with Marte out and their prospects going 1-9. Please play these kids again today and tomorrow…they’ll get a day off Monday.