Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
After a rainy Memorial Day weekend, the New York Mets traveled west to begin a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Chase Field. The Mets activated Pete Alonso, Kevin Pillar and Seth Lugo from the injured list, which was a positive sign of things to come for this team going forward. They won 6-2 for their fifth consecutive victory.
For the Mets, Jacob deGrom took the mound in his second start since returning from the injured list. He has a league-leading 0.80 ERA, a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 10.57, and only four hits per nine innings.
DeGrom was absolutely dominant on the diamond, retiring the first 13 batters he faced. He pitched six scoreless innings, striking out eight batters and allowing only two hits. DeGrom also added a rare curveball to his pitching arsenal. It took 600 pitches for him to throw his curve for the first time.
Jose Peraza singled for a base hit with no outs in the second inning. Mason Williams followed with his first hit for the Mets, putting runners at first and second. Two batters later, Francisco Lindor lined a first-pitch curveball into right field, loading the bases and giving the offense a chance. Alonso drove in two runs in his first game back from the IL with a two-run single in the third. Peraza and Williams both scored.
Williams was recently called up from Triple-A Syracuse to play center field.
A miscommunication between outfielders David Peralta and Ketel Marte resulted in Jose Peraza’s two-out double in the fourth inning. DeGrom did not disappoint, hammering a base hit into right field for an RBI single that put the Mets up 3-0.
In the seventh inning, with one out, Jonathan Villar connected on a changeup for an opposite field base hit. After picking off Villar in the first inning, he got some retaliation from Merrill Kelly. Villar stole his first base of the night, putting him in scoring position.
Alonso had another great opportunity to capitalize after Lindor struck out looking. He crushed a two-run blast to left field on Kelly’s first pitch, extending the Mets’ lead to 5-0. The distance on his home run was 442 ft. Alonso had four RBIs on the night in a very triumphant return.
Trevor May was summoned from the bullpen to start the seventh inning. He was unable to complete the outing. May gave up three hits and two earned runs, allowing the D-Backs to get a little closer.
Miguel Castro entered the game against Domingo Leyba in an attempt to secure the final out of the seventh. Leyba crushed the ball to center, attempting a two-run homer, but Williams came to the rescue with a spectacular defensive catch, saving at least a run.
Billy McKinney, a newly acquired outfielder, started the next inning. McKinney was claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers.
After spending two weeks on the sidelines due to a broken nose caused by a pitch from Braves pitcher Jacob Webb, Pillar was brought in as a defensive replacement in left field by Luis Rojas. In the top of the eighth, he came up for his first plate appearance and received a standing ovation as he approached the plate. Pillar made quick work of getting on base, roping a single past third baseman Eduardo Escobar. Pillar has been a true inspiration to the Mets organization as well as Major League Baseball itself.
Miguel Castro stayed in the game until the eighth inning. He was on a roll as he recorded the first two outs of the inning. But he ran into trouble after giving up back-to-back base hits. But Castro was saved by a nice defensive play by Villar to get the final out of the eighth inning.
Lindor batted first in the ninth inning, looking to add to his night. He was able to connect on a fastball and safely get in with a stand-up double. Lindor finished the night with a 2-for-5 performance.
Jeurys Familia was brought in to pitch the ninth inning in a non-save situation. For the first out of the inning, Familia struck out Carson Kelly. Pavin Smith grounded out for the second out, but Josh Reddick didn’t want the inning to end on such a low note, blooping a double into left field with two outs. Familia finished the game by striking out Domingo Leyba for the final out of the inning, securing the Mets’ fifth consecutive victory, 6-2.
The Mets (26-20) will look to extend their winning streak against the Arizona Diamondbacks (19-36) on Tuesday for their sixth straight win. Marcus Stroman will look to build on his impressive season as the probable starter.
