The New York Mets split their doubleheader tonight, taking the opener on Jacob deGrom‘s brilliance before falling short in the nightcap. The Mets (37-30) were defeated 1-0 by the Atlanta Braves (34-37) in the second game at Citi Field.
Ian Anderson struck out five batters, shutting down the Mets offense for the first 5 1/3 innings, allowing only three hits.
Jerad Eickhoff took the mound for the second game of the doubleheader. Eickhoff was called up for the first time this season yesterday after Mason Williams was designated for assignment. He was 5-1 with a 5.32 ERA in Triple-A Syracuse before being called up last Sunday. Since the Mets announced Joey Lucchesi would require Tommy John surgery and will most likely be out for the season, it appears like Eickhoff will play a larger position in this pitching depth chart for future starts.
Eickhoff, who formerly pitched in the National League East for the Philadelphia Phillies, was quite familiar with the Braves in tonight’s game. He did have a respectable Mets debut, pitching four scoreless innings and striking out three against the Atlanta Braves, but he also gave up three hits and walked three.
In the fifth inning, Miguel Castro relieved Eickhoff.
Castro allowed a leadoff home run to Ronald Acuna Jr. With a line drive to deep center, he drove in the game’s first run, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead. Acuna’s home run was his 20th of the season. Castro got the next three outs to finish the inning and keep the Mets in the game.
Sean Reid-Foley was the next pitcher to enter the game. He threw the sixth inning, giving up no earned runs and lowering his earned run average to 4.42.
In the top of the seventh inning, Trevor May took the mound and pitched brilliantly, striking out two batters and allowing no earned runs.
In seven innings, the Mets pitchers combined to strike out six batters, allow four hits, and one earned run.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Pete Alonso sparked a potential rally by singling on a sharp line drive to left field. Dominic Smith follows suit with a base hit to right field, giving the Mets runners at first and second. James McCann had a chance to drive in the tying run, but he was plunked by closer Will Smith to load the bases. With the bases loaded, Kevin Pillar batted and sharply lined out to Austin Riley for a hard second out. It was all up to pinch hitter Brandon Drury who pinched hit for outfielder Billy McKinney, who ended the game by popping out to Ozzie Albies.
The Mets will play the Atlanta Braves in their third game of the series tomorrow. Marcus Stroman (6-5, 2.35 ERA) will face Charlie Morton (6-3, 4.03 ERA). In his last eight outings, Stroman has gone six innings. During that time, he had a 2.50 ERA, striking out 46 batters while walking twelve. Charlie Morton, on the other hand, had a no-hitter in his last game against the St. Louis Cardinals in seven innings of work. The game will be on SNY at 7:10 pm.
