The legend that is becoming Noah Syndergaard, struck lightning again in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Syndergaard threw seven dominant innings, striking out 11.
He allowed just one run on the day while giving up six hits. For the second consecutive start, he did not walk a batter while dealing another double-digit strikeout game. Thor walked no batters for the second consecutive start. The only other Mets pitcher to reach that feat was Dwight Gooden on September 12 and September 17 of 1984.
Additionally, Syndergaard is the fourth pitcher since 1913 (and first Met) to have consecutive double-digit strikeout games with no walks and no earned runs. On the season he has allowed just nine walks, while striking out 76 in 60.1 innings. He has truly taken over role of an ace for a team that surely needed him to step up.
“The ability when I go out there, I have the confidence to go out there and throw whichever pitch at any given time,” Syndergaard said. “The amount of growth that I’ve had in the span of one year has been night and day.” (NY Post)
On a day where his team needed him to go deep into the game, he did not disappoint. The bullpen was taxed, both Addison Reed and Hansel Robles were unavailable on the day. Manager, Terry Collins, needed his 23 year-old ace to get his team through the seventh, it didn’t look promising at first as he struggled with his command early on. Syndergaard though bared down like a true ace, readjusted and provided another great start.
“We said [Saturday] night, this kid’s got to get us deep in the game. He’s got to step up and give us an outing, and he did,” manager Terry Collins said. “At his age, with his experience, to have to ride him like that is a compliment to what he’s done and what he’s accomplished so far and his maturity.”
Thor now has eight double-digit strikeout games through his first 33 career starts and is tied with Matt Harvey for second-most for a Met in team history through their first 33 starts. Gooden is first with 16 such starts. Syndergaard’s 76 strikeouts through his first nine starts of the year are third-most for a Met in team history. Only Tom Seaver struck out more in his first nine starts (88 in 1970 and 77 in 1971). Not bad company for a young ace.
