The Mets knocked in six runs and knocked around rookie Robert Dugger in his debut, which ended up being a losing effort. Jacob deGrom struggled early, but settled in finished strong. He was back up by scoreless appearances from Justin Wilson and Edwin Diaz in New York’s 6-2 win over the Marlins as the Mets have now won 10 of their last 11.
Offense
The Mets jumped on Robert Dugger right away, as Jeff McNeil smacked the first pitch into the bullpens in right field for his 14th of the season. Two pitches later, Michael Conforto was hit in the toe to reach first with one out. Pete Alonso and J.D. Davis would then both be retired to end the Mets threat in the first.
After losing his bat on a 2-1 swing to lead off the second, Todd Frazier would ground-out to Isan Diaz for the first out. Tomas Nido and Jacob deGrom would record the final two outs with a Juan Lagares walk in between the two.
Amed Rosario belted his 12th home run of the season, a handful of feet shallower than where Jeff McNeil put his.
Davis was walked and Todd Frazier hit by a pitch to start the fourth inning. Tomas Nido struck out, but a Juan Lagares walk then walked the bases with one out for Jacob deGrom. DeGrom would then single up the middle, driving in Davis and Frazier to extend the Mets’ lead to 4-1. McNeil then lined into an inning ending double play, with a line drive seemingly heading into center field, but a great catch by Jon Berti was backed-up with Lagares being caught off second.
Amed Rosario beat out an infield single to start the fifth, his second hit of the day. Following a Michael Conforto walk, Pete Alonso singled up the middle to score Rosario, his 79th RBI of the season. Davis followed suit with a sac-fly to Brian Anderson in right field, scoring the Mets’ 6th run. Frazier then lined a ball at 103 MPH right at the left fielder Harold Rameriez for the second out, and Tomas Nido recorded the final.
Lagares walked for the third time today to lead off the bottom half of the sixth. McNeil then reached on an error to set up first and second with one out for Amed Rosario, who promptly struck out. Conforto then grounded into the over-shifted right side of the infield to end the Mets’ threat. Alonso and Davis went quietly to start the seventh against Wei-Yen Chen. Nido then grounded to first base to end the inning after Todd Frazier walked.
In the eighth, Juan Lagares struck out, Aaron Altherr flied out to Brian Anderson in right, and Jeff McNeil singled,
For McNeil, it was his 200th career hit. He reached the mark in 599th at bat, being the quickest Met to that mark, beating Dave Magadan by 68 at bats.
Pitching
Jacob “Day Game King” deGrom started the day with a first-pitch single against him, but was able to settle down from there. Isan Diaz would ground into a fielder’s choice for the first out, and then the good ole’ “strike him out, interference on the batter as the Diaz tries to steal” would end the first.
Brian Anderson and Starlin Castro hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game on the first two pitches of the second, Anderson’s ticking off the glove of a diving Davis.
DeGrom set down the side in order in the fourth with the help of a terrific fielding play by Amed Rosario at shortstop, continuing his impressive defensive run.
DeGrom would set the Marlins down in order in the fifth as well, striking out Alfaro and Berti to end the inning. By this point, deGrom had settled in and retired nine in a row.
DeGrom gave up a leadoff home run to Isan Diaz, the first hit of his Major League career, while Fox Sports Miami was interviewing his parents in what was an amazing moment. DeGrom then set down the next three hitters, completing six innings of two-run baseball.
DeGrom would return for the seventh, where he made Harold Rameriez look foolish for his seventh strikeout. Lewis Brinson then rolled one over to Frazier at third for the second out. Jorge Alfaro then was set down on a slider for strike three, deGrom’s eighth strikeout.
Justin Wilson followed deGrom, who for the 7th time in his career, drove in more or as many runs than he allowed. Wilson was greeted with a single from Martin Prado on the first pitch, Wilson then recorded a fielder’s choice on a come-backer, struck out Diaz looking, and sat down Garrett Cooper swinging.
Edwin Diaz entered with a 4-run lead, and proceeded to drill the first batter he saw. Diaz induced a double-play ball, but the speed of Starlin Castro out of the box and a good slide into second by Brian Anderson, prevented the Mets from turning two. Diaz then caught Rameriez looking at a 98 MPH fastball at the knees for the second out. Diaz then walked Miguel Rojas on four pitches to put a second runner on. Diaz then struckout Jorge Alfaro to end the ball game, and secure a 6-2 win.
On Deck
The Mets finish the double header with Game 2 against the Marlins starting shortly after the conclusion of Game 1. Walker Lockett will be opposed by Sandy Alcantara.
