It was a picture-perfect day in Pittsburgh, with a brilliant blue sky and puffy white clouds. And while it was a little rocky getting there, Edwin Diaz picked up the save in the ninth inning, giving the Mets a 5-2 win. The victory snapped a 3-game losing streak and got the Mets back to within a game of .500 at 43-44.
The Mets squandered scoring chances in the first two innings and it looked like the were going to do it again in the third. The had bases loaded but Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos both struck out. But Luis Torrens cleared the bases with a double and the Mets had a 3-0 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
David Peterson pitched out of trouble in the second inning, which drove his pitch count up. He made one bad pitch in the fourth, which resulted in a homer. But he seemed to be in good shape, albeit with a higher pitch count than you’d like. He started the fifth inning with a strikeout to the leadoff batter, who was hitting for the third time in the game. And then the second hitter, who earlier had a knock, hit a single and Carlos Mendoza came with the quick hook.
Peterson faced two batters a third time thru the order, with one of them getting a hit. He’s not given a chance to pitch out of it, so his slash line is .500/.500/.500 and then people will talk about how much worse he is the third time thru the order. It’s madness.
Jose Butto relieved and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings. And then he’s removed despite throwing just 16 pitches. It seems as if Mendoza has a clause in his contract for pitching changes before the eighth inning, as in the more he makes, the more he gets paid.
And Reed Garrett pitched himself into a heap of trouble. He escaped unscathed thanks to two questionable strike calls with the bases loaded. The Pirates manager took out the “p” and became irate, getting himself tossed for arguing strike calls. He had a legitimate beef.
Dedniel Nunez had an 8-pitch eighth inning and Diaz hit a batter in the ninth but ended the game with a DP grounder for his eighth save of the season in his first game back from the sticky-stuff suspension.
Torrens and Brandon Nimmo each had three-hit games, as the Mets finished with 11 hits, a nice change from the impotent offense of the past two games, where they managed just a combined two runs and six hits in 18 innings.
Sorely need win, Mets will take it for sure. Shout out to home plate up’s very low strike zone, allowing for Garrett to throw a nasty splitter to get out of the jam. Pirates had a beef but the Mets have been on many short ends on calls so, such is life. Welcome back Mr. Diaz.
Nice bounce back win and the pen waivered but held on for 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Torrens with the game winning double just when we thought they’d leave the bases full and fail to score once again. Going to secure a split tomorrow with Manaea tomorrow and then Scott comes back for Monday’s series finale.
It would be great to win the series and climb back over .500.
Did not see the game, but have seen Peterson in the past. He has a talent for getting into trouble and giving up runs in a heartbeat. Can’t blame Mendoza and has Peterson earned the benefit of the doubt? Granted, last time he was taken out for no good reason, but this time, having thrown 87 pitches in just the fourth inning, I can’t really quibble.
Truth is, Mendoza doesn’t know how to manage a bullpen yet. He needs to learn.
Gut Reaction: Luis Torrens has contributed again in a win. He is a good backup catcher. Even if he was playing at his career numbers he was still better than Narvaez or Nido. With his small sample this season he has picked up his game and he is a integral part of the bench (0.9 bWAR). It was a nice trade to acquire him by Stearns.
With a three-run lead Butto should have remained in the game and try to save Garrett or Nunez for the next game.