The Mets banged out 17 hits and took the opening game on their key series with the Padres, 8-3, Thursday night in San Diego. They have won five of their last seven games and are now 67-61 for the season.
The offense started early, with Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos hitting back-to-back doubles in the first inning to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. The Mets added two more runs in the fourth on a passed ball and an infield single.
Luis Severino, fresh off a shutout in his last game, danced out of some trouble early but looked like he had completely righted the ship with an 8-pitch fourth inning. But he ran into a wall in the fifth. A nice double play helped him escape with only one run allowed but he was pulled after five innings and no one was clamoring for him to go back to the mound for the sixth.
The Mets’ pen did a nice job in innings six thru eight, holding the Padres scoreless. Then the Mets exploded with a five-run ninth, thanks to seven hits. Six of them were singles, with only Jesse Winker’s double going for extra-bases.
Edwin Diaz got ready to pitch the ninth inning but wasn’t needed with the big crooked number. Instead, Huascar Brazoban came in and allowed two runs on two walks and two hits. But he eventually got out of the inning.
Now the question is if he’ll survive to pitch another game this month. Reed Garrett was in jeopardy of losing his roster spot but he pitched a scoreless inning. Brazoban has an option remaining, so he becomes the betting favorite to go to Syracuse when Dedniel Nunez gets activated on Friday.
Great start to the road trip and until the bottom of the ninth inning, the Mets looked great! Brazoban is not a high leverage reliever. He has the pitches but he tenses up too much and can’t throw it over the plate, maddeningly, even ahead in the count. But before that, the Mets showed great defense, good base running, and clutch hitting. Those last three runs in the ninth inning came with two out hits! Alonso a cheap roller the other way was all it took to get a run in from third base. Where was that all year?
It was humorous to see Lindor implore Brazoban to throw strikes and Brazoban looked like he wanted to say, “I’m trying, but I don’t want these guys to hurt the ball”. Lindor has become everything Cohen thought he was getting when they made the trade and gave him the contract.
How do the Mets pitchers explain seven walks to a team that averages less than two per game and is last in of baseball, including Asia, South America, and Australia?
So I live in Israel now, and the Mets are both a comfort and the suffering admittedly. Somehow admits the turmoil and the constant stress tension. The met are still constant in my life I’m 68 and recently underwent to angioplasty. Perhaps my prayers as a religious orthodox Jewish man can reach the Almighty and before I snatch my last breath, I can experience bliss and delight the championship season as mama used to say from my mouth to God‘s ears !
I I dictated that into my phone and there are errors, but I think it could be read and understood
That the Mets won the game started by Dylan Cease was a big plus as the odds were against them. Save for that one inning, Severino pitched well despite four more walks. Great relief work and if you are not going to throw Brazoban in when you have an 8-1 lead, when would you?
Lindor and Vientos keep rolling and six different players scored. Only Alvarez looked lost at the plate, striking out four times in five AB. Even Pete had three hits. Medicated- another championship in my life time to go with ‘69 and ‘86 would be very welcomed. “Next year in Flushing” has always been the chant. Odds makers have us as the underdog for the next three games so they need to prove them wrong. 1.5 games behind the Braves for the last WC spot and upcoming are some winnable games against both Sox teams, the Reds and the Blue Jays before critical games against the Phillies and Braves. It’s really in their hands to win. Need to make a dent against the Pods and DBacks before the games get “easier.”
Gut Reaction: Vientos has been consistent all year. He is an offensive force. Iglesias, Winker, Taylor had two hits and McNeil had three. Marte and Martinez were rested. Who will play today? That is a nice problem to have. Brazoban with his options should get sent out today. He hasn’t pitched as expected and he is insurance if another reliever gets injured. He can just be recalled. This was the nice start to the road trip.
Smiles broadly I used to say that the Messiah would come when the Mets when the Mets were in the World Series in the seventh game at Shea Stadium, the Rebbe was a huge fan of Baseball, and there are many stories of him speaking in metaphor, utilizing baseball elements
I hate the 7 walks. I love the W any way they can get it.