As if the pitching rotation wasn’t in limbo heading into Tuesday’s nights game on the road against the Miami Marlins, David Peterson, the probable starter for the match up against the Miami Marlins, was scratched just a few hours before first pitch due to shoulder fatigue. Corey Oswalt stepped up to start.

Oswalt looked solid in his 4.1 innings of work, throwing his name into the mix of pitchers who are capable of giving the team a solid start if need be.

For both sides, the game started off slow, with only one hit in between the two teams through the first few innings. However, the offense seems to have turned a corner, with a three-run fourth inning. The bats stayed hot from the fourth inning on, totaling ten hits, three of which were home runs, and plating at least one run in two of the last three innings.

The pitching staff as a whole put together a great game. Oswalt had a solid four innings, and once he was pulled, the bullpen took over. Justin Wilson, Jared Hughes, Dellin Betances, and Edwin Diaz all came in and got the job done, only allowing one run the rest of the way.

 

 

Offense:

The Mets bats were silent the first two innings, with the only base runner to reach was a walk by J.D. Davis. Marlins starter Humberto Mejia seemed dominant, really commanding the zone. Mejia did not strike anyone out through the first three innings, relying on his defense to make solid plays.  

With two outs in the third inning however, Brandon Nimmo got the scoring going with a solo home run to deep right-center field.

The scoring did not end there, J.D. Davis led off the fourth inning with a towering home run to dead center field to extend the lead to two. Michael Conforto followed Davis with a walk, and Pete Alonso continued to break out with a hard hit single up the middle. Dominic Smith then hit a beautiful opposite field ground rule double, extending his hitting streak to seven games. Smith remains one of the hottest hitters in baseball. However, after a Rosario ground out and a Nido fly out to the warning track in center field, the inning ended with the Mets only scoring three. The offense continues to thrive over the last few games, consistently making solid contact, and hitting better with runners in scoring position.

Nimmo led off the fifth inning with a triple off of switch pitcher Pat Venditte, however it went for naught as McNeil popped out followed by strike outs from Conforto and Davis.

The bats went silent in the sixth, with Venditte ultimately leaving the game due to an injury. James Hoyt replaced him getting the final two outs of the inning,

Amed Rosario, who has been struggling as of late, sent a blast off of Nick Vincent to center with one out in the seventh inning, a homer that Rosario needed for his morale, he extended the lead to 4-2.

The eighth inning began with a ground out from Davis, however the inning was just getting started. After Stephen Tarpley hit Conforto in the back with a pitch, Robinson Cano doubled to put runners on second and third. Marlins skipper Don Mattingly decided to intentionally walk the right- handed hitter Alonso to get the lefty/lefty matchup with Dom Smith. However, Tarpley walked Smith on four pitches, extending the lead to three.

Brad Boxberger came in to face Amed Rosario, and he continued his fantastic night with a two RBI single, blowing the game open in the eighth. Rosario has four hits over the last two games, as well as four RBI’s. But the offense does not stop there, Nimmo hits a ball just past the diving Alvarez to plate Billy Hamilton, who pinch ran for Dom Smith.  The inning ended with a total of nine men stepping to the plate, and four runs crossing it.

Former outfielder now pitcher Brett Eibner made his pitching debut in the ninth, and issued a walk to JD Davis. Following the walk, Conforto hit a rocket of a single to right field, with Davis advancing to third.  Following a Robinson Cano ground out, Alonso was intentionally walked for a second time, loading the bases for Billy Hamilton. The lefty was first pitch swinging, and grounded into a fielders choice. Rosario struck out with the bases loaded to end the top of the ninth. Eibner worked out of a jam in his MLB pitching debut, striking out one.

Pitching:

Corey Oswalt, getting the ball on short notice, came out firing. Through the first three innings, the right-hander gave up one hit to Jonathan Villar, who was ultimately picked off by Oswalt just a few pitches later. 

Oswalt headed out to the mound for his fourth inning of work, and continued his great start. His mix of pitches were really working, with his change up getting a lot of life late as it approached the plate.

With one out in the fourth, Matt Joyce hit a double to right center field, just out of the reach of a leaping Conforto. Jesus Aguilar then hit an opposite field double, driving in Joyce. It was amazing Aguilar got any wood on the pitch he hit, as it was a good six inches to a foot outside. Brian Anderson followed with an RBI single. Oswalt had his first hiccup of the start, however he limited the scoring to only two.

Oswalt started the fifth inning, however, he was pulled with one out and a runner on second place, being replaced by Justin Wilson who came in and retired the next two batters, keeping the lead at 3-2. The right-handers final line was 4.1 IP, giving up five hits, two runs, both of which were earned. He also struck out four and didn’t allow a walk.

Wilson, who was credited for the win, came out for his second inning of work in the sixth, but was pulled after getting Jesus Aguilar to strike out, and Corey Dickerson to ground out for Jared Hughes. The right-hander came in and got pinch hitter Eddy Alvarez to line out to McNeil to end the inning.

Hughes continued to pitch in the seventh, retiring the side in order, while striking out one that inning. Hughes continues to prove to be one of the more reliable arms for Luis Rojas.

Dellin Betances entered at the start of the eighth inning. Betances jammed Matt Joyce, forcing him to check swing and roll one to Andres Gimenez at second, he then got Jesus Aguilar to pop out. Corey Dickerson punched one the opposite way for a single. Betances then got Brian Anderson to line out on a beautiful change up.

Edwin Diaz entered to pitch the ninth in a non-save situation looking to continue to build on his fantastic August. Francisco Cervelli was first pitch swinging and drove one to the wall for a double.  Alverez singled, but the story of this hit was the amazing diving stop Gimenez made to prevent a run from scoring. On the first pitch of the Magneuris Sierra at bat, Diaz went to field it and hurled it into the empty stands. It was ruled a single, however the runners advanced on the throwing error. One run scored, the score was 8-3. Diaz didn’t look as crisp as he has in his last few outings. He was under the ball, throwing more from a three-quarter arm slot.

Diaz recorded the first out of the ninth with a strikeout against Monte Harrison. Diaz then got Villar chasing on a fast ball up and away. After a rocky start to the inning Diaz settled down. The right-hander got Matt Joyce to strike out swinging. Once Diaz settled down, he looked like the dominant pitcher we’ve seen as of late.

On Deck: 

Jacob deGrom (2-0, 2.45) makes his return to the mound Wednesday night, after missing his last turn in the rotation due to a stiff neck. He faces off against Pablo Lopez, who has been impressive despite a small sample size this season.

DeGrom looks to continue where he left off before last weeks scratched start, who has been nothing short of dominant since Opening Day. Finally, a sense of normalcy in the rotation.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM on Wednesday August 18th. The game will be televised on SNY, and could be heard on WCBS 880-AM.