Sean Manaea had his best game as a Met and combined with two relievers on a shutout, as the Mets blanked the Twins, 2-0, Tuesday night at Citi Field. The Mets are now seven games above .500 with a 57-50 record.
Manaea set the tone early, as he struck out two in a 1-2-3 first inning. He finished the night allowing just two hits and a walk in 7 IP. And he amassed 11 Ks along the way. Manaea upped his record to 7-4 and lowered his ERA to 3.50 for the season.
The Mets managed just five hits on the night but were able to get two runs. The first run came on a walk to Brandon Nimmo, a stolen base, a wild pitch and then a single by J.D. Martinez. Mark Vientos supplied the other run an inning later, with a solo homer in the fifth inning.
With Manaea at 92 pitches, Carlos Mendoza went to the bullpen, bringing in Ryne Stanek. It was a move that had me a little queasy, as Stanek has not been good his last few outings. And it seemed to be a bad omen when Pete Alonso committed a throwing error on a ball hit by the first batter Stanek faced. After retiring the next batter, Stanek gave up a walk to put the tying run on base. He got a fly to center for the second out.
And then Mendoza went to Edwin Diaz for a four-out save. Diaz ended the threat in the eighth inning with a strikeout and then retired the side in order in the ninth for his 13th save.
The win clinched the series for the Mets and they go for the sweep in an afternoon game on Wednesday that starts at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
Manaea was outstanding tonight and the Mets scratched across two runs; perfect recipe. The Mets are looking for the sweep and going for the Phillies!
A good evening tonight as I started it by seeing some of the Mets game (while I’m working) and then switching to the Phillies/Yankees and seeing the Yankees pull it out. The Phills announcers are bemoaning the fact that the Phills lost five straight series and “are not hitting the ball hard”. LOL, you mean Stott is not Babe Ruth anymore? The Mets are 8 games out and here they come!
The Mets today fortified their bullpen and found a way to free up Butto for the rotation and find some help for later in the year when innings limits come in.
No game changer at the deadline but four new arms and Jesse Winker. We needed the help to get rid of some lesser talent. Can’t keep up the pace since June, but we can certainly win series after series and keep inching further above .500. Great job by Manaea – would have liked him to start the 8th just to make it there. Vientos lifts us up. Afternoon sweep would be sweet.
Gut Reaction: Manaea pitched a great game. In July he has been giving the team length in his starts. Four of his seven starts this month were 6+ innings. He only had 3 of them prior to this month.
I was surprised that Stanek was use in a close game instead of Maton.
Vientos power will comfort the blow if Alonso isn’t signed.
The Mets are relying on Diaz and he delivered for this game perfectly.
Let’s go for the sweep.