Chris Flexen spun his best major league start on Wednesday night in the New York Mets 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Flexen pitched a career high six innings allowing only two runs on six hits, four walks and tied a career high with five strikeouts. He went over the 100 pitch mark for the first time and lowered his big league ERA now to 5.79 in six starts.
It’s also the fourth straight start that Flexen has gone at least five innings and allowed three runs or less.
However, walks continue to be an issue for the 23-year-old right-hander as he now has 20 in 28 innings after only 10 in 61.1 minor league innings this season.
“I think the more experience I get, the more comfortable I am out there,” Flexen said after the game. I’m learning a lot more what a quality pitch is, and how to get guys out here.”
The most impressive feat by Flexen on the night was facing MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt twice with a runner on third base and got him out without letting the runner from third score either time. First time via strikeout and second on a groundball to third.
Terry Collins said this after the game about Flexen coming through in big spots, “”It was all poise to me and not getting too nerved up when you’re facing the middle of that lineup. You gotta keep your wits about you, because if you get out of control and start to make mistakes, they’re gonna really hurt you. I just thought he handled it great.”
