In Monday’s 11-4 win against the Marlins, the Mets bats never seemed to rest with almost every starter having a hit. Two of the most notable players of the night were Robinson Cano, hitting two home runs and driving in four RBI’s and Pete Alonso who had a pair of homers himself.

Despite the Mets starting the night with a quick scare due to Robert Gsellman struggling with his command, their rough start may have been a blessing in disguise. Gsellman’s start didn’t last long as he was taken out of the game in the third due to a rapidly rising pitch count, the pitcher only going 2 1/3 innings.

The Mets bullpen had a long, but successful night. They managed to hold down the fort for seven-plus innings with Jeurys Familia allowing only one run and Franklyn Kilome allowing two.

The game included another elite outing from Chasen Shreve who earned the win. The game was the first time since 2016 that the Mets used their bullpen for 7 2/3 innings to clinch a win.

Pitching

Robert Gsellman took the mound for the second time this season in his newfound starting position. He allowed a single to Jonathan Villar to begin the bottom of the first. 

After Jesus Aguilar struck out swinging, Matt Joyce doubled, sending home Villar making the score 1-0 Marlins with one out. After running up his pitch count due to a few walks, Gsellman retired the rest of the Marlins, minimizing the damage. 

Gsellman was able to get the first two outs of the second due to some poor Marlins base running but struggled to get the last out allowing two batters to get on base. Chasen Shreve entered the game to relieve Gsellman and struck out Matt Joyce to end the inning. 

Shreve had a stellar outing going through the third and fourth without any base runners with five strikeouts and some spectacular fielding as well. 

Jeurys Familia entered in the fifth allowing a home run to Villar right off the bat with no outs cutting the Mets lead to 6-2 but managed to make it through the rest of the inning without any issues. Familia’s curve ball was impressive on Monday. 

Brad Brach came into the game in the sixth allowing three singles, loading the bases with two outs but managed to make it out unscathed with Villar flying out to Brandon Nimmo to end the inning.  

Franklyn Kilome pitched the seventh and eighth and struggled more than in his last few outings allowing a pair of walks in both innings but worked around them to escape without damage.

Sadly in the ninth, the rookie started to lose steam allowing a double, three singles, and a walk making the score to 11-4 Mets. Kilome worked his way out of any more damage with the game ending on a flyout from Villar.

 

Offense 

The Mets started the first two innings with leadoff walks. Despite the team being unable to produce in the first, they went into the second with the bases loaded on a pair of walks from Michael Conforto and Pete Alonso and a base hit from Robinson Cano sandwiched in. 

Dominic Smith hit a two-run double pushing home Conforto and Cano with no outs. Despite Alonso getting tagged out at home, Amed Rosario came to the plate with an RBI double bringing home Smith making the score 3-1 Mets. 

The Marlins then brought in Sterling Sharp to relive Jordan Yamamoto who was quite obviously struggling on the mound. The inning ended with Jeff McNeil striking out. 

The third inning began with J.D. Davis being hit by a pitch. Cano was next and the second baseman hit a two-run home run to extend the Mets lead to 5-1. After Alonso was called out for interference, Wilson Ramos hit a double to right field. The inning finally ended on a ground out from Rosario.

Alonso started off the fifth with a solo home run increasing the Mets lead to 6-1.

Brandon Nimmo ripped a fastball that was down and in for a leadoff triple in the top of the sixth eventually being pushed in on a sac fly from McNeil adding to the Mets lead. 

Following a walk to Davis, the Mets slammed back to back homers with Robinson Cano hitting his second two-run home run of the night. Alonso followed with a solo home run for his second of the night and fifth this season giving the Mets an eight-run lead. 

The Mets loaded the bases in the eighth but were unable to translate the hits to runs as they stranded three on base.

Position player Logan Forsythe was put in to pitch for the Marlins in the ninth, after loading the bases he allowed a sacrifice fly to Billy Hamilton pushing home Rosario with the score at 11-2 Mets.

 

On Deck

The Mets face the Marlins in Miami for the second game in the series. Rookie David Peterson will be making the fifth start of his career (3-1 2.91 ERA) with the opposing pitcher still yet to be announced. 

Peterson did a great job in his last outing only allowing one unearned run with one hit and two walks. The 24-year-old is a great contender for the Rookie of the Year award so far this season. 

The first pitch will be at 7:10 PM on Tuesday, August 17th. The game will be televised by SNY and broadcast on WCBS 880-AM.