Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
As we enter the first full week of June, the New York Mets have the best record in the National League. At 37-19, the Mets currently lead the NL East by 8 1/2 games and are coming off another winning week, going a combined 4-2 versus the lowly Nationals and the powerful Dodgers. After easily taking three games from the Nats, including consecutive shutout victories in the final two games of the series, the Mets picked up two wins and two losses in LA. The first two games of the series were completely non-competitive, with the Mets scoring just one run over those 18 innings, but Saturday and Sunday saw the Mets earn two come-from-behind wins.
The leaders of the week: Pete Alonso and Trevor Williams – didn’t think you’d see those two names paired together this season, did you?
Williams pitched masterfully in New York’s 10-0 win on Wednesday over the Nationals, while Alonso blasted three homers in Dodger Stadium.
Hitter of the Week
Pete Alonso enters the new week with a Major Leading 54 runs batted in. Last week, he drove in eight more runs, part of a seven-hit, four home run stretch of seven games in which Alonso slashed .259/.375/.741. After an eighth-inning home run that put the icing on the cake in the Mets 13-5 route win on May 30, Alonso cooled down for a few days before he absolutely heated up in the City of Angels. He drove in the Mets lone run on Friday with a solo homer, making sure his team did not get shutout on back-to-back days. On Saturday, Alonso knocked a two-run blast into the left field seats, putting the Mets ahead for good, 5-4, and putting the Mets in front after initially trailing 4-1. He would cap off his epic night with a three-run home run in the eighth inning, a powerful lined shot to center.
In the series finale, Alonso ripped a game-tying RBI double in the eighth inning, then wound up scoring the eventual winning run on J.D. Davis‘ double in the 10th frame.
Pitcher of the Week
Beginning this season as a reliever and still pitching out the bullpen when needed, Trevor Williams provided two huge starts for the Mets this week with a combined 10 innings of two run baseball. Williams, the latest Mets spot starter to thrive in a role most did not expect him to be needed in, has been sensational for a Mets rotation that continues to be injury-stricken. On Wednesday, Williams pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and two walks to a Nationals lineup that continues to struggle. Facing a much tougher test on Sunday afternoon in LA, Williams once again thrived, allowing six hits and run runs across five innings. With five strikeouts as well (one off a season high), Williams mostly kept the Dodgers bats in check, outside of a two-run home run allowed to Trea Turner. In a game the Mets narrowly won, Williams’ efforts proved to be instrumental as the Mets salvaged a split of the series.
