Good morning, Mets fans!
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor made history yesterday, becoming the fourth player in Mets history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season. Lindor entered Wednesday’s doubleheader with 27 home runs and 30 stolen bases on the season, needing just three more balls to leave the yard to hit the esteemed 30-30 mark.
Francisco got to work early as he sent a Braxton Garrett 2-2 fastball over the left field wall in the first game of the day to give the Mets a 4-0 lead. Lindor’s massive day did not end after the first matchup; Francisco went right back to work in the nightcap as he tagged Marlins starter Johnny Cueto for two bombs, one in the second and one in the fourth inning. The former gold glover’s impressive season made him the third to reach the 30-30 mark in MLB this season and the sixth single season 30-30 in Mets history, with Howard Johnson reaching the threshold three times with the club.
The Mets split their doubleheader against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, winning Game 1 11-2 and falling short in the second game by a score of 4-2. Joey Lucchesi and Kodai Senga both had impressive performances, going six and five innings, respectively, and only giving up two earned runs a piece. Lindor carried most of the offensive load for the Mets as he went 4-for-7 between the two games with three home runs and 7 RBIs.
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
While the Mets won in blowout fashion in the first game, a Brett Baty error in the top of the ninth ended up costing them a sweep of the doubleheader. The Marlins’ win and the Cubs’ loss leave Miami in a virtual tie for the final wild card spot while owning the tiebreaker.
The Mets will finish up their season series against the Marlins on Thursday as it will be a lefty vs. lefty matchup with David Peterson (3-8, 5.37 ERA) on the mound for the Mets, who will be going against Jesús Luzardo (10-9, 3.73 ERA).
Mets News
Buck Showalter announced to the media before the first of Wednesday’s two games that Starling Marte would be shut down for the season. The Mets will be cautious with Starling as he had surgery on his groin last November; Showalter expressed confidence that the veteran outfielder will be healthy for the 2024 season.
Between games of the doubleheader, Joey Lucchesi told reporters that he and his family had been in a car accident the night prior as they were preparing to head back to their hotel from Citi Field following the postponement of that night’s game. Lucchesi said that his Uber was one of four cars that was hit in a police chase; the perpetrator was then arrested on sight following the collision. The lefty assured reporters that everyone was fine as their car had not left yet and that he just had minor back soreness as he, thankfully, was sitting on the opposite side of the car. Luckily, Tylor Megill was around to give Joey and his family a ride to the hotel ahead of his start day, where he dazzled in his last appearance of the 2023 season.
Along with Francisco Lindor, Kodai Senga also reached an impressive benchmark as he tallied his 200th strikeout of the season. Senga used his vaunted “ghost fork” as he struck out Jake Burger to end the third inning en route to another impressive start. Kodai finishes his outstanding rookie season with a 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and his eight strikeouts on Wednesday brought him to a total of 202 on the season.
The Mets are holding free screenings for prostate cancer in the Piazza 31 Club at Citi Field today from 5:30-8:00 P.M. All ticketholders will have the chance to learn about their risk level for prostate cancer and how to maintain their own health from a “quick and easy” PSA (simple blood draw) test.
MLB News
The Cleveland Guardians honored Terry Francona last night as he managed his final home game as the Guardians manager. The beloved Guardians skipper, who brought them to the 2016 World Series, was given a video tribute and was showered with applause both before and after the game from the Cleveland faithful. In a heartwarming moment, Guardians players, including José Ramírez, blocked the dugout steps as they forced the reluctant Francona to feel the love from the Cleveland crowd.
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer threw a light bullpen session yesterday as he tries to make a comeback from his strained teres major injury, per Evan Grant of Dallas Morning News. The former Met was placed on the IL two weeks ago and was ruled out for the rest of the regular season, and Rangers’ GM Chris Young made it sound like a return for the playoffs was unlikely, too. While the veteran is progressing well in his rehab, when asked about timelines, Max said, “If you target dates, you get emotional & then you compete with the injury and that’s the worst thing you can do.”
Ronald Acuña Jr. keeps blowing through milestones in a record-breaking season, which could end in his first MVP award. The Braves All-Star reached the 40/70 mark on Wednesday. Acuña’s two stolen bases came in a Braves win against the Cubs last night, putting him at 70 on the season while already going into the game with 41 home runs.
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Chris Bello highlighted Jeff Passan naming the Mets as a ‘scary possibility’ to trade for Juan Soto.
Jorge Eckardt reviewed the news of Christian Scott and Luisangel Acuña being named Double-A All-Stars.
On This Date in Mets History
2022: It was Eduardo Escobar night at Citi Field as the veteran infielder single-handedly carried the Mets to a 5-4 win over the Marlins. In the middle of a battle for the NL East crown, the Mets were trailing the Miami Marlins 4-0 in the 7th inning when Escobar got the Mets on the board with a 2-run home run. Eduardo would then strike again as he plated two with a single to the right side of the infield to tie the game at 4 a piece in the 8th inning. The night of Eduardo would finally end as he poked a ball through a vacant shortstop hole in the 10th inning, sending Francisco Lindor home from second base to win the game.
2019: Pete Alonso sets the major league record for most home runs in a season by a rookie as he hits his 53rd home run of the season in the bottom of the third inning off Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz. Alonso broke the record of 52, which was set by Aaron Judge of the Yankees just a couple of seasons prior in 2017.
2018: David Wright took his first at-bat in a major league game in over two years as he grounded out in his fifth inning at-bat against Marlins pitcher José Ureña. Wright would get his well-earned send-off a night later as he played his last career game.
2011: José Reyes tallies a bunt single in his first at-bat of the game against the Reds. The Mets would then pinch run for him to solidify his place as the 2011 National League batting champion, becoming the first Met to do so.
2008: The New York Mets played their final game at Shea Stadium as they took on the Marlins in a game where a win would force a game 163 against the Milwaukee Brewers for the final wild card spot. The Mets would go on to lose that game 4-2, but that did not stop the festivities, as former Mets from 1962 and on assembled along the foul lines as Tom Seaver threw the final pitch at Shea Stadium to Mike Piazza. Piazza and Seaver poignantly walked through the outfield wall and “closed the gates” on beloved Shea Stadium.
Birthdays: Danny Mendick (30), Mike DeJean (53), Ronn Reynolds (65)
