Prior to Saturday’s 15-2 Mets blowout victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mets manager Terry Collins put all Mets position players “on notice” especially the underperforming hitters.
Collins message was fairly simple. Play well and you’ll keep playing. Play badly and you will be benched.
“Whoever’s swinging the bat’s going to play,” said Collins. “It’s about scoring runs right now. The message has been sent: ‘Listen, we’ve got to start scoring.”
“They’ve been put on notice,” added Collins. “It’s time to pick it up.”
“We have not scored. We have not hit. We went out and got two guys who we think have added some offense to us. I’m not going to leave them sitting on the bench. If they’re going to bring more offense than what we’ve got, they’re going to get in there somewhere.”
Call it a coincidence, call it the fact they faced two pitchers who were demoted to the minors after the game, call it the addition of three new players to the offense, whatever it was, it looked like the team responded.
They got off to a great start on Saturday, scoring four runs on five hits in the first inning on their way to a 15 run and 21 hit barrage.
After a horrific two-month slump for Lucas Duda, he responded with a two-homer game, his 13th and 14th homeruns of the season.
Newly acquired Kelly Johnson was alsoone of the many offensive heroes in the game with two hits and a home run. Johnson is a hitter who can play the infield (1st, 2nd and 3rd base) or both corner outfield positions.
“Hopefully this creates some depth, creates some different opportunities and different matchups,” said Johnson. “Obviously (Uribe and I) have both been in the league a little while, both swinging the bats pretty good this year, so that’s going to help.”
Johnson is on a tear and is now batting .341 (15-44) since July 4 in his time with Atlanta (13 games) and New York (one game).
Juan Uribe, who was also acquired in the trade with Johnson, picked up a single after he came into the game late, and also made a spectacular play at third base, showing off a strong arm narrowly beating a runner to first.
Uribe is also another player who can play multiple infield positions, but for now he will be asked to man third base until David Wright can return.
“I want to help the team and help us make it to the playoffs<” said Uribe. “I’m just here to do my job. If I do good, I’m going to play. If I’m not doing good, maybe I won’t play.”
Kirk Nieuwenhuis started in center field over Juan Lagares and drove in four runs to match a season-high and finished the game with a career high-tying four hits. He’s been red hot and is now hitting .375 (12-32) since being recalled two weeks ago.
Kirk also recorded his first outfield assist of the season when he nailed Joc Pederson trying to stretch a single into a double in the third inning.
So all in all it was a tremendous game for the Mets, with all hands on deck offensively including Matt Harvey, who not only pitched a gem but also contributed two hits as well.
