Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
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The Mets jumped all over the Marlins’ pitching staff in a 9-3 victory, finishing off a 4-2 road trip. Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run homer and reached base four times, Eduardo Escobar collected two hits including a homer, and Tomás Nido homered and recorded three hits. Nido’s homer was his first since May 25, 2021. Taijuan Walker pitched seven strong innings, allowing five hits and one run, walking none, and striking out 10.
Meanwhile in Seattle, the Mariners walked off the Braves in a wild ninth inning, 8-7. With the Atlanta loss, the Mets’ lead in the NL East is back up to 1.5 games.
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The Mets are back home to start a seven-game homestand, beginning with three games against the Cubs. The Mets took three of four from Chicago at Wrigley Field in the final series of the first half. Chris Bassitt (13-7, 3.24 ERA) will look to keep his hot streak going against righty Javier Assad (0-1, 2.93 ERA). The Mets are looking to win the season series against the Cubs for the first time since 2016. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm.
Max Scherzer threw a bullpen session yesterday, the first he’s thrown since landing on the injured list. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said it was normal and went well.
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The Braves announced that former pitcher Anthony Varvaro tragically passed away yesterday at the age of 37. The Staten Island native retired from MLB in 2016 to become a Port Authority police officer. He was on his way to a 9/11 commemoration event when he was killed in a car accident.
MLB and MLBPA have defined who is part of the minor league union’s bargaining unit. This includes all players in complex leagues through Triple-A except players who are on the voluntarily retired list, minor league inactive list for more than two years, in a league outside of the U.S. or are on a 40-man roster.
Zac Gallen set a Diamondbacks franchise record by reaching 44 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings before C.J. Cron‘s RBI single broke the streak in the third inning. Brandon Webb previously held the record of 42 innings.
Albert Pujols delivered a go-ahead two-run homer off Chase De Jong in the ninth inning against the Pirates, the 697th long-ball of The Machine’s career. The homer moved Pujols ahead of Alex Rodriguez for fourth on the all-time list. The ball was caught by Matt and Samantha Brown, on the anniversary of the death of Samantha’s father. When the couple met with Pujols to return the ball, Pujols let them keep it and signed two more baseballs for them, saying it would mean more to them than to him.
The Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot, defeating the Padres 11-2. The win moves Los Angeles to 96-43 on the year and reduces their magic number to clinch the NL West down to just two.
Latest on MMO
James Villani recaps the Mets’ convincing win in their series finale against the Marlins.
Andrew Steele-Davis profiles recent MLB call-up Mark Vientos.
On This Date in Mets History
1969: Jerry Koosman and Don Cardwell both toss gems and drive in the winning run in their respective starts as the Mets sweep a doubleheader from the Pirates, with both games being 1-0 finals. Even with a Cubs win, the Mets’ lead in the NL East increases to 2 1/2 games.
1984: Dwight Gooden strikes out 16 batters in a 2-0 win over the Pirates. He breaks Herb Score‘s record for most strikeouts by a rookie, which sat at 245.
2006: Trailing 4-1 in the eighth inning, Carlos Delgado smacks a game-tying three-run homer off Taylor Tankersley and Cliff Floyd hits an RBI double to key a 6-4 victory over the Marlins. Billy Wagner escapes a jam in the ninth inning to earn his 37th save of the year, and the Mets’ magic number to clinch the NL East is down to two.
2015: After Tyler Clippard surrenders a game-tying homer to Adonis Garcia, Kelly Johnson singles in the go-ahead run as the Mets defeat the Braves for their sixth straight victory. Jeurys Familia tosses a clean ninth inning to secure his 40th save of the year.
2021: In a wild game that gets heated in the eighth inning, Francisco Lindor hits three homers, including the game-winner off Chad Green as the Mets narrowly get past the Yankees, 8-7. Edwin Díaz gets into trouble in the ninth inning but escapes the jam for his 29th save of the year.
Birthdays: Mickey Lolich (82), Keith Hughes (59), Luis Castillo (47).
