Marcus Stroman Helps Mets Outlast Rockies in 1-0 Victory

After a cancellation on Wednesday, the Mets took the field Thursday for the start of another doubleheader, something they must be getting quite accustomed to at this point.

Billy McKinney was the latest unfamiliar name to join the Mets’ lineup, making his team debut after coming over from the Brewers via trade on Tuesday evening. McKinney was a first-round draft pick in 2013 for the Oakland Athletics, and, at just 26 years old, will look to provide a nice spark for the injured Mets.

Marcus Stroman took to the mound for New York, facing a Rockies lineup he’s had much success against. The right-hander had slotted 15 scoreless innings at Coors Field coming into Thursday’s game, impressive for a pitcher not used to throwing in the thin air.

However, it was yet to be seen how Stroman would fare at home against Colorado; evidently, the change in location didn’t change a thing for the right-hander. He started off well, retiring the side on 19 pitches and working around a hard line-drive single off the bat of Ryan McMahon.

Jonathan Villar led off New York’s half of the first with a screamer down the right-field line. He was held to first base, which ultimately led to his demise, as Francisco Lindor grounded a ball towards the hole on the right side, which was robbed by first baseman Josh Fuentes. Fuentes dove for the ball and quickly threw a strike to second before hustling back to the bag to catch the return throw, finishing off the double play.

Lindor was evidently frustrated with the robbery in the previous inning, and he quickly sought out revenge. After Brendan Rodgers worked his way on with a one-out walk, Lindor got the jump on a ground ball up the middle, fully extending his body in a dive to grab the ball before glove flipping it to Jose Peraza at second for the force out.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the second, Stroman took the mound once again, retiring opposing pitcher German Marquez quickly via a lineout to shortstop. Next, Raimel Tapia grounded a ball to first baseman James McCann. He flipped the ball to Stroman, who speedily covered the bag, and while Tapia was initially called safe, he was later retired by replay review.

Peraza was quick to begin the offensive action in the Mets’ half of the third, pummeling the first pitch of the frame into the left-field seats for the first, and only, run of the game. This positioned the Mets right where they like to be, as the team was 18-5 this season when scoring first coming into Thursday’s game. After two straight strikeouts and a Villar walk, Lindor was robbed of a hit for the second time in the game. The shortstop laid a bunt down the third-base line, but McMahon quickly got to it and fired a strike to first to beat the speedy shortstop by a step, retiring the side.

Stroman walked another batter in the fourth but worked around it well, and after a hard-fought battle with Rodgers, he made it through unscathed. His pitch count was slightly high at 62 pitches through four frames, but that didn’t seem to bother the right-hander as he pounded his glove on the way off the field.

Stroman continued his hot afternoon in the fifth, pouncing on a Garrett Hampson bunt and firing it to first for the out. Next, Marquez, who is a previous Silver Slugger award winner, lined a single into right field but was stranded after a Tapia groundout. Through five innings, Stroman had induced 10 ground-ball outs.

Marquez abandoned the basepaths and took the mound in the bottom of the fifth, making quick work of the Mets, retiring them 1-2-3 on just five pitches. Stroman returned for his final inning in the sixth, and quickly found himself in a jam. After striking out McMahon, a shallow fly ball off the bat of Trevor Story dropped in front of Cameron Maybin in center for the Rockies’ third hit of the game.

With one out and the tying run on first, Stroman buckled down and challenged Charlie Blackmon, manufacturing a line drive to center for the second out. Stroman took the same approach with Fuentes, eventually getting him to fly out to right field for the last out.

Lindor made good contact again in the bottom half of the sixth, lining the first pitch he saw up the middle. The ball rebounded off of Marquez’s hip, and although he recovered and threw to first for the out, he was obviously shaken up. Fortunately, Marquez was okay and remained in the game to retire McCann on a flyout.

The Mets turned to Edwin Diaz in the seventh to save the game. Coming into the Thursday, Diaz had not allowed an earned run yet on the season in save situations, and he kept his streak alive. The right-handed flamethrower retired Rodgers and Hampson via the groundout before blowing a two-strike fastball by Dom Nunez for the third out.

With the win, the Mets move to three games over .500 for the time being. Stroman lowered his season-long ERA to 2.47 with his six scoreless innings, striking out three and walking two.

The Mets will take on the Rockies once more this afternoon, as Joey Lucchesi takes the mound against right-hander Antonio Senzatela, who has posted a 5.01 ERA so far this season.