The New York Mets faced their National League East rival Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Zack Wheeler, the runner up for the National League CY Young Award last season, got the start against his former team. Coming off of an exceptional opening day start, Tylor Megill looked to continue his good work versus a power-packed Phillies lineup. It was Megill and the Mets who finished on top by the score of 2-0.
Megill followed up his first start with another scoreless outing, making it 10 1/3 innings pitched without allowing a run this season, leading all Major League pitchers. His eleven strikeouts are now tied for third across baseball. With the absence of Jacob deGrom, and now Taijuan Walker landing on the 10-day IL due to right shoulder bursitis, the Mets will be relying heavily on Megill to provide consistent production.
Mets hitters were plunked twice by Wheeler in the first inning, continuing a string of bad luck in that department, making it seven hit batsmen in 2022. The league average for hit batsman this season is just two.
The bats were quiet early on for both teams. It took until the top of the fifth inning for the first run to get on the board, as Brandon Nimmo hit a solo shot off of a Wheeler changeup bringing the Mets a 1-0 lead. Wheeler left the game that same inning, exiting after 4 2/3 innings of work. He had a solid night, only allowing one run on two hits and a walk, while striking out three.
After allowing a double to Nick Castellanos, the first batter he faced, Drew Smith bounced back by striking out three Phillies hitters across 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. Amongst those strikeouts, Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius did so ending the seventh inning, stranding Castellanos on-base.
Nimmo lead-off the eighth inning by drawing a walk, granted by Phillies reliever Cristopher Sanchez. After a force out at second base, Starling Marte reached by fielders choice, empowering Marte to then steal second. Francisco Lindor singled with one out to bring Marte into score, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. Lindor has had RBI-singles in consecutive games after bringing in James McCann in Monday night’s game.
Two runs proved to be all the Mets needed to win the ball game. Their bullpen combined for a scoreless 3 2/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing two hits. Manager Buck Showalter should be delighted with the bullpen’s performance, after they had given up leads in the previous two games, which both resulted in losses.
Edwin Diaz notched his first save on the season, while Chasen Shreve and Smith both were awarded their second holds.
Player of the Game: Tylor Megill.
Tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out five, allowing no walks and three hits, he picked up his second win in two tries. A few more starts similar to his first two, Megill is in line to be a fixture in this Mets rotation. The tall right-hander has impressed many with his velocity, topping out at 99mph, averaging 96.7mph on the night.
The Mets will take on Philadelphia in the rubber match on Wednesday at 1:05pm, before a day off on Thursday. Max Scherzer gets the nod with a chance for the Mets to win their first-two series on the season.
