Tuesday, May 8, 2018 • 7:10 p.m.
Great American Ball Park • Cincinnati, OH
LHP Jason Vargas (0-2, 16.20) vs. RHP Luis Castillo (1-4, 7.01)
SNY• WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050
The Mets finally got back in the win column last night! PJ Conlon was excellent the first time through the batting order (hitters were 0-for-8 with a walk) but got hit hard his second time through prompting an early exit (in addition to starting his first major league game, he also picked up his first major league hit).
The Mets offense though gave the team quite the cushion thanks to some long-needed power from Conforto and Gonzalez. The Reds would chip away at the Mets lead the rest of the night but would ultimately lose to the Amazin’s by a score of 7-6.
Mets Lineup
- Michael Conforto (L) CF
- Asdrubal Cabrera (S) 2B
- Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
- Jay Bruce (L) RF
- Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B
- Amed Rosario (R) SS
- Tomas Nido (R) C
- Jose Reyes (S) 3B
- Jason Vargas (L) P
Reds Lineup
- Jose Peraza (R) SS
- Scott Schebler (L) RF
- Joey Votto (L) 1B
- Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
- Scooter Gennett (L) 2B
- Adam Duvall (R) LF
- Devin Mesoraco (R) C
- Luis Castillo (R) P
- Billy Hamilton (S) CF
Speaking of players needing redemptive performances, tonight’s starter is Jason Vargas who has had a terrible start to 2018. He is 0-2 in his first two games as a Met allowing 15 runs from 20 hits and five walks, including five homers, in 8.1 innings. In his career, he has pitched in Cincinnati twice where he has allowed seven runs, six earned, over 10.1 innings from 10 hits and six walks. The only member of the Reds who have seen Jason in a game is Eugenio Suarez who is 1-for-4 against him.
The Mets bats will try to keep the offense flowing against Luis Castillo, who is coming off of his rookie season. Last year he was 3-7 over 15 games and 89.1 innings with a 3.12 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 1.075 WHIP and 141 ERA+. This year in seven games he has struggled with a 1-4 record, 7.01 ERA, 5.20 FIP, 1.673 WHIP and 57 ERA+. He is coming off of his best start of the season against the Brewers where he pitched into the seventh inning (but didn’t record any outs) allowing two runs from nine hits and a walk. He has never faced the Mets before and the only member of the Mets who has seen him is Todd Frazier who is 1-for-2 against him.
Notes
Michael Conforto hit the club’s first leadoff home run this season. It was Conforto’s seventh career leadoff homer, which is the fifth-most in team history. José Reyes and Curtis Granderson are first with 21, Lenny Dykstra and Tommie Agee are tied for third with eight. Since 2017, Conforto’s seven leadoff homers are tied for the third-most in the majors with Ian Kinsler and Charlie Blackmon. Brian Dozier is second with nine and George Springer is first with 12.
Yoenis Céspedes is fourth in the NL and tied for eighth in the majors with 27 RBI. He is tied for ninth in the NL with seven homers. Céspedes is hitting .313 (21-for-67) with a .351 OBP, five doubles, four home runs, 11 runs scored and 15 RBI in his last 18 games.
The Mets will start consecutive left-handed pitchers (P.J. Conlon and Jason Vargas) for the first time since Sept. 6-7, 2015 when Steven Matz and Jonathon Niese did so. Courtesy of Elias.
Lets Go Mets!
