The Mets entered Sunday’s doubleheader with a record of 55-56, looking to get back to .500 for the first time since May 28.
They put that chance in the hands of their ace, Jacob deGrom, who came into his outing having given up just one run in 21 innings over his last three starts. DeGrom has been on a roll as he’s quietly boosted himself into the conversation for Cy Young, despite a relative “down year.”
DeGrom gave up a leadoff single to Jon Berti to start the game on an 0-2 slider that he left too far in the middle of the plate. Then in his first MLB plate appearance, Marlins top prospect Isan Diaz hit a ground ball to Amed Rosario that Rosario wisely threw to third to retire Berti.
DeGrom struck out Garrett Cooper on a changeup, and Diaz initially stole second before he was ruled out due to Cooper interfering with Tomas Nido‘s throw.
DeGrom was at his shakiest in the second inning, when the first two pitches he threw were both hit for doubles to tie the game at one apiece. DeGrom settled down though as he always does, working through just a two-out walk to Jorge Alfaro.
Berti doubled off him again to start the third, but he retired the next three batters, including Cooper swinging on a changeup for the second time.
DeGrom then retired the next six batters, four via the strikeout as he really got locked in and looked like his most dominant self.
He allowed the first MLB hit and home run to Diaz to lead off the sixth, much to the Diaz family’s excitement, but settled down to retire the final six batters he faced. Overall, he retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced in what turned out to be another excellent start by the righty.
DeGrom’s final line was two runs on five hits and one walk, with eight strikeouts in seven innings. He lowered his ERA a smidge to 2.77, and fueled the Mets to a 6-2 win in the opener of the doubleheader. The win carried momentum into the nightcap, when the Mets battled out a 5-4 victory to sweep the doubleheader and go above .500.
DeGrom also helped out his own cause in the win, slapping a two-run single in the fourth to give the Mets a 4-1 lead. According to the SNY broadcast, it was the 12th time in his career that deGrom has driven in as many runs as he gave up.
“It’s exciting,” deGrom told reporters after the game. “Before the All-Star break, we were hoping to come back and play good baseball, and that’s what we’re doing. So, excited to be back at that mark, and hopefully we can continue to win.”
The Mets have indeed been playing good baseball since the All-Star break, with a Major League best .739 winning percentage since the break. The Mets have won 11 of their last 12 games and now sit at 57-56, 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot.
The Mets have finally gotten on the hot streak they needed, and deGrom’s dominance is going to be huge for them down the stretch if they want to make a serious run at the playoffs.
