In a season where some think pitching has been too dominant, the Mets won their first 1-0 game of the season in their 97th contest of the 2024 campaign Saturday afternoon in Miami. The win gets the Mets back to three games above .500 at 50-47. The 2023 Mets were four games worse at 46-51 after 97 games.
Luis Severino allowed just two hits in six innings to pick up the win. But he pitched out of trouble in the first, fourth and sixth innings, as the game was not as easy as the final line might make you believe. In the sixth, a HBP, a walk and a wild pitch had two runners in scoring position yet Severino escaped unscathed.
Severino threw the fastest pitch of the game at 98.6 mph, getting a key strikeout in the sixth inning. He finished the game with seven strikeouts, a nice change from some of his low-K games earlier this season.
Jose Butto and Dedniel Nunez got five of their six outs via strikeouts. Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth and picked up his 11th save of the year.
The game’s only run came in the fourth inning, when Francisco Alvarez grounded into a fielder’s choice, which scored Pete Alonso, who doubled with one out to start the rally.
The Mets had just six hits but also had six balls hit at 99.6 mph or greater which were turned into outs. Lots of at ‘em balls so far this series, which has held down their runs scored.
I like the win more, but I also like the added value to Severino. Stearns’ plan is working pretty much as he hoped it would.
Winning or losing seasons can often be defined by how many of these types of games you win or lose. Now we need to win the last 2.
Gut Reaction: in the previous two games the starting pitching of the Mets fell short. Severino stopped the slide and pitched a gutsy and well game. Mendoza went to the mound in the 6th and everyone expected a pitching change. It didn’t happen. Severino finished what he started and took responsibility of his outing.
Butto pitch the 7th, and only the 7th, followed by Nunez and Diaz. Those three are a good combination to lockdown a game. Iglesias started a second base and had two hits. McNeil started in right field and didn’t get a hit but ,boy he ripped the ball and was again robbed for a extra base hit with men on. He hasn’t had any luck.
Nice win and a rare shutout. The Marlins record may stink but on any given day any team can win as we saw the previous game. I’d like to think that McNeil is turning a corner but a string of good hitting games would be more convincing. His play in the outfield is good enough to keep him in the lineup as long as Iglesias gets increased playing time. Hard to keep a .384 hitter out of the lineup, especially one who can also field. Nice to see Alonso and Martinez get a hit, but these two really need to get going. And yes, they need the next two games to go five over before the real completion comes to town. It’s time to widen the gap ahead of other would be wild card competitors. It would be great to get six out of Scott and Peterson these next two days.
Nice win. With this shutout (2nd in just a handful of games,) the Mets climbed out of a tie with the Rockies for last in MLB for scoreless games. Ten days ago, they were last. Now, with two, they are in 29th all by themselves, 9 behind the Braves for the lead.