It was a special night in New York as Mets top prospect A.J. Ewing made his major league debut on Tuesday in the Mets’ series-opening win against the Detroit Tigers. Led by a strong outing by Freddy Peralta, the Mets went on to defeat Detroit 10-2 to open their homestand victorious.
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The story of the night was Ewing. What a night it was for the 21-year-old from Kettering, Ohio, who, with his dad in attendance, collected a multitude of firsts and filled out his stat sheet in his big league debut. Ewing was 1-for-2 on the night, with a loud RBI triple in the seventh for his first big league hit and RBI. He also walked three times on the night, had his first two runs scored of his career, his first two RBIs, and sped to second from first for his first big league stolen base.
Ewing’s triple was the first Met to triple in his first big league game. He was also the first Met since 2004 to reach four times in a big debut and the first Met to walk three or more times in a big league debut. The accolades and accomplishments were plenty for Ewing.
Freddy Peralta got the start for the Mets. After a rocky start to the night, he settled in and went on to pitch six innings, marking just the third time he’s been able to throw that many this season. He gave up just two earned runs on seven hits (one home run), a walk, and he struck out seven.
The only inning in which the Tigers struck for runs on Peralta was in the second. Dillon Dingler hit his seventh homer of the year to lead off the inning, and three batters later, with two in scoring position, Spencer Torkelson hit a sacrifice fly that allowed the Tigers’ second run to come across. Peralta threw a total 100 pitches (68 for strikes).
Offensively, Carson Benge, Juan Soto, Mark Vientos, and Brett Baty each collected a pair of hits in the Mets win as the Mets combined for nine runs on 13 hits.
After going down 2-0 in the top of the second, with bases loaded and one out, Francisco Alvarez grounded into a force out that drove in a run to get a run back for the Mets in the bottom of the inning.
The Mets tied the game 2-2 in the third on an RBI single by Vientos with two on and no outs.
Benge stayed hot on Tuesday as he collected two hits and, an RBI, and a run scored. His RBI was an RBI single in the fourth that gave the Mets a 4-3 lead over the Tigers.
The Mets extended that lead even further in the sixth, but suffered a loss in the inning, as Francisco Alvarez was pulled from the game early with an apparent knee injury.
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With bases loaded (including with Ewing, who had walked for the second time and stole his first base), Bichette reached on a fielder’s choice, and a throwing error allowed Ewing and Torrens to make it a 5-2 game, followed by Soto grounding out to score Benge and make it 6-2.
The seventh inning was by far the most exciting of the night, as Ewing collected his first big league hit. After Baty reached for a second time on a single, Ewing hit a triple to right field that scored Baty for his first RBI of his career. Torrens then followed with an RBI single, and the Mets came out of the inning with an 8-2 lead over the Tigers.
The Mets offense poured it on even more in the eighth. After back-to-back one-out singles Soto and Vientos, Austin Slater reached on a fielding error to score a run. Then, with bases loaded and two outs, Ewing walked for a third time to pick up his second RBI of the night.
Player of the Game
Rightfully so, Tuesday night’s player of the Game is Ewing with his triple, three walks, two RBIs, and two runs. It was a night he’ll remember forever.
On Deck
The Mets and Tigers continue their series on Wednesday. It will be the lefty Framber Valdez (2-2, 4.57 ERA, 35 SO) on the mound for Detroit against Mets right-handed Christian Scott (0-0, 3.27 ERA, 15 SO). First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EDT.
