Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
After struggling in the beginning of his Mets career, Joey Lucchesi has turned his season around. After allowing four runs in just 1 2/3 innings on May 15 in Tampa Bay, Lucchesi did not allow more than one run in any of his next four outings. Joey Fuego looked to stay hot on Friday night in Washington D.C.
Lucchesi established his churve early on in Washington. Kyle Schwarber led off the game with a strikeout looking at a churve, and after a Trea Turner line out to center fielder Mason Williams, Juan Soto went down looking at a churve right on the low outside corner.
Lucchesi kicked off the second inning with two more strikeouts, this time getting Ryan Zimmerman looking at an inside fastball before getting Yan Gomes chasing a high fastball. Josh Harrison flew out to Dominic Smith in left field to get Lucchesi through his second consecutive perfect inning to start the night.
The Nationals got their first baserunner of the night on a lead-off single up the middle from Jordy Mercer in the third inning, and the inning looked like it could turn into trouble. Victor Robles hit what looked like a double play ball to Jonathan Villar at third base, but Robles’s elite speed helped him beat out the back end of the play after Mercer was forced out at second. The inning took a big turn when Tomas Nido attempted to throw out Robles on Eric Fedde’s sacrifice bunt attempt. Nido appeared to have time to get the speedy Robles, but threw the ball into center field to put runners on the corners with one out. After a walk to Schwarber, Turner hit a hard ground ball to Villar at third, who was able to step on the bag before getting Turner at first for the inning ending double play.
Lucchesi began the fourth inning by falling behind 3-0 to Soto, but was able to get back in the count and get him to pop up to Francisco Lindor. In the next at bat, Zimmerman took a curve with two strikes that certainly should have been called strike three. Home plate umpire Kerwin Danley, who had an inconsistent strike zone all night, called the pitch a ball before Zimmerman singled. The hit did not cause any trouble for Lucchesi, as he induced an inning ending double play from Gomes immediately after.
In the fifth, Harrison flew out to Billy McKinney in right field to lead off the inning. After a Mercer pop fly out to Pete Alonso, Robles blooped a single into center field. Lucchesi retired Fedde on a 4-6 ground out to retire the side.
Lucchesi took the mound to begin the sixth inning for the first time since 2019 and for the first time as a Met. He struck out Schwarber for his first strike out since the second inning. Turner followed with a single up the middle before Soto drew a walk to put an end to Lucchesi’s night.
Miguel Castro came in to face Zimmerman, and he was able to get a quick double play to end the Nationals’ threat and close the book on another solid outing for Lucchesi.
Lucchesi finsider the night going 5 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts on 90 pitches.
For the third consecutive start, Lucchesi had his longest outing of the season. Despite not being able to finish the sixth inning, Lucchesi being able to pitch into the sixth is a very encouraging sign for a team that will need all of their pitchers to step up with the upcoming schedule. Over his last five starts, Lucchesi has pitched 22 2/3 innings, allowed just 15 hits and six walks, while striking out 24 batters. With only three earned runs allowed, he has a 1.19 ERA over that stretch. Besides being given a consistent starter role, Lucchesi said the biggest difference for him over this stretch was not overthinking and simplifying his game.
“I was thinking too much during outings,” Lucchesi said. “Speaking to our staff and coaches, simplifying it and just thinking hit the glove is literally all I’m doing. I’m just thinking hit the glove, and I feel like that’s helping me a lot.”
The Mets currently have an MLB-best 2.64 team ERA from their starting pitchers, which has been a huge factor in the Mets being one of the top teams in baseball despite all of the injuries. With Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard not expected back in the immediate future, Lucchesi can add himself to the long list of Mets to step up when given larger roles in 2021 if he can continue this strong run of success.
