USA Today Sports/Noah K. Murray
A day after the merry Mets blasted the Giants for a baker’s dozen, they held on for a 6-5 win, their eighth in a row, boasting the longest streak in the major leagues this season.
On Saturday, young Michael Conforto continued where he left off going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three ribbies, raising the roof on his batting average to .365. He matched a franchise record with his sixth consecutive game with a double. Neil Walker helped his new team take the lead in the first with a two run single. He wrapped up April with a career best 19 RBIs.
Jacob deGrom got his third straight win, but not without yielding an uncharacteristic four walks. An error by Flores put the Giants on the map with three unearned runs, and within one of a tie game. After pitching two hit ball for six, deGrom was relieved by Jim Henderson who put two on, then struck out two to end any more wrongdoing.
Conforto hit one out to lessen the cozy lead 5-3, then in the sixth, Flores made up for his foil with his first dinger of the season, a solo shot to extend the cushion by three.
The Mets flirted with disaster once again in the top of the 8th when the bullpen came dangerously close to giving it all away. Addison Reed walked the first batter, then gave up a single to Buster Posey. Hansel Robles came in with a lot on his plate, and immediately surrendered two sac flies to make it a one run game. Thank Blevins for getting Gregor Blanco to ground out to first to end the inning.
Jeurys Familia gave up a lead off single to Denard Span who was immediately erased by way of a double play off of the bat of former Met, Angel Pagan. And Matt Duffy had the dubious honor of recording the final out.
Weather permitting, Sunday’s finale features a premier pitching matchup of Madison Bumgarner against Gnome giveaway day warrior Noah Syndergaard. The Mets will be zeroing in on their third series sweep, their ninth straight win, and hopefully overthrowing their nemesis Washington Nationals for first place in the NL East.
Mets Diamond Dust:
Jeurys Familia is 8-for-8 in save opportunities and notched his 57th career save Saturday to move into a tie for 10th place on the Mets all-time list with Braden Looper.
Michael Conforto has reached base safely in 17 straight games, extending his career-high. Over his last 14 games, the Mets left fielder is batting .407 (22-54) with 14 runs scored, nine doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI. In addition he also extended his career-high hitting streak to eight games.
The Mets hit two homers Saturday and finished the month with 33 home runs, tying the most the club has ever hit in the month of April. They also belted 33 home runs in April, 2006.
