Remember back in May when the Mets lost three straight games in which they hit three home runs because the pitching was so bad? It was something that had happened only four times previously in MLB history. Well, the Mets here in the second half don’t lose when they hit three homers. And that’s what happened Tuesday night, as the Mets beat the Red Sox, 7-2, behind another strong start from David Peterson.
The Mets’ first two hits were homers. Francisco Lindor followed a Jeff McNeil walk with a two-run blast in the third inning and Mark Vientos hit a solo shot in the seventh. Pete Alonso clinched the game with a two-run homer in the eighth.
Peterson cruised thru the first four innings before allowing a scratch run in the fifth. He stranded two runners in the sixth and virtually no one was upset when he was pulled, despite throwing just 89 pitches. His final line was 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB and 11 Ks – a terrific way to celebrate his 29th birthday.
Jose Butto was filthy in the seventh inning and far less than that in the eighth, where he allowed a run to make it 3-2. But new eighth-inning man Reed Garrett cleaned up the mess and kept the Mets in front, setting the stage for their four-run bottom of the inning. The crooked number meant that Ryne Stanek pitched the ninth and he responded with his second straight 1-2-3 frame to close the game.
It was another great game from Lindor, who had two hits – a double and homer – two runs and three RBIs. He now has 84 RBIs on the season, six more than Alonso. It was his 30th HR of the year and he also stole his 26th base.
The Mets have now won six in a row and sit with a 75-64 record. They remain a half-game behind the Braves but picked up a half-game on the idle Padres, who have a 3.5 game lead on New York.
A couple of sweet outfield throws from McNeil, one told the batter to a single on what looked like a sure double and then when he faked a throw home and threw to second to keep the runner from advancing to third where he would have scored on the next play.
Also 1-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Up to a 98 OPS+
4 .more in a row olease!
Gut Reaction: Lindor kept pushing the envelope of his MVP candidacy. Peterson threw a masterpiece. Butto has a 5.0 BB/9 rate and that is very concerning. Vientos had a significant home run to give them Mets an insurance run at a crucial point of the game. Stanek, not Diaz, finished the game entering with a five-run lead. Mendoza made the pitching moves soundly in this game. It was a series win. Let’s go for this sweep!
According to baseball almanac, Lindor is the 4th SS to join the 30-30 club, and will be the first (hopefully) 2 time SS for 30-30. His first entry was last year, so it will be back-to-back as well (pending a few more SB). He’s certainly on track for a 7 bWAR season. All in all, he is living up to his contract after not such a good year his first year. Meanwhile, neither Rosario nor Gimenez are performing at the levels they were at the trade time. I know first impressions can be hard to break, but lets be fair: Lindor is a beast, and that acquisition was worth every dollar.
Lindor currently has a 7.2 fWAR. That uses Statcast for fielding, which is the best system publicly available and is an important part of Lindor’s value.
As for SS 30-30 seasons, Bobby Witt Jr. also did it last year and is just 2 SB away from doing it here in 2024.
Thanks for that infor on Witt. I Did see that but forgot to mention NL SS.
Prior to Witt last year, and most likely this year, the ony other AL SS in the 30-30 club is A Rod with Seattle. Pre doping? or just hiding doping? or not serious testing for doping?
The SS 30-30 club is very elite indeed