The road Mets offense showed up, as they put up four runs in the first inning and tacked on three more in the ninth, to salvage the last game of the series with a 7-3 win over the Marlins Sunday afternoon. The victory upped the Mets’ record in series finales to 12-4. Unfortunately, they are 9-21 in other games.
With the bases loaded, Tyrone Taylor socked a double to deep center field for the first two runs of the game. Harrison Bader followed with a two-run single to make it 4-0.
Sean Manaea was the beneficiary of the early offense. But he ran into trouble in the second inning when he walked the leadoff man. One batter later, he allowed a homer, just his second gopher ball of the season. But it cut the lead in half.
Manaea also ran into some trouble in the fourth inning as two runners reached base. But he struck out the next two batters to escape unharmed. Manaea’s final line was 5 IP, 2 ER, 1 BB and 4 Ks. It’s the third straight start in which he allowed just one walk, hopefully a sign that his wildness issues are behind him.
Jake Diekman allowed a homer in the seventh to make it a one-run game. But the Mets added to the lead in their last turn at bat. Francisco Lindor had a one-out single and after the second out, Brandon Nimmo socked his seventh home run of the year. After a hit-by-pitch and a single, Brett Baty had an RBI single that drove home Starling Marte for the final run.
Reed Garrett struck out the side in the eighth inning and stayed in to pitch the ninth to earn the save, with Manaea moving his record to 3-1 with the win.
The Mets pounded out 12 hits and went 4-12 with RISP.
After the game, Jerry Blevins called Garrett’s stuff “closer worthy” and explained how his four pitches compliment each other with a 97mph heater that can’t allow you to wait on the splitter, and his two sliders differ from each other enough that it’s hard to sit on anything.
Could not be happier for you Brian, getting to write a gut reaction that was not gut wrenching. Nice game all the way around from the bats to the pitching with only two walks all game. Garrett with a .72 ERA. For the moment happy for no negativity.
I was wondering why most of his Gut Reactions have unhappy endings…
As poor as Diaz has been, Garrett has been spectacular. Can he be elite all season?
Kudos to the road sticks. Lindor and Alonso have been big culprits, but the law of averages could spell some more line up punch sooner or later.
So far Stearns has Ws on Severino, Manaea, and even Bader. With that hit rate to date, a record over .500 at this point would make more sense.
Gut Reaction: Garrett closed the door. He was electric in the 8th inning. Mendoza should use Garrett as a closer until Diaz straightens himself out. Nimmo in the 3 hole is working well. Mendoza is proactive in finding solutions for problems.
Haven’t we been saying Nimmo needs to come into the three hole to use his power better for over a year now? I thought it was illegal or something like that to move him.