Travis d’Arnaud returned to the Mets lineup after tearing it up in Vegas, when in 15 minor league games, he had nine multi-hit games and hit .436 with 12 runs, eight doubles, six home runs and 16 RBIs.
Tuesday’s game didn’t start out the way he may have planned, or even envisioned after tearing through the Triple-A pitchers, as he struck out in his first at bat against A’s left handed starter Scott Kazmir.
But d’Arnaud would get his revenge in his second at bat, as he launched a three-run bomb over the left field fence for his fourth home run on the season, “Fortunately I got a pitch up and put a good swing on it,” d’Arnaud tells the media after the game.
“Even with what we saw tonight [Tuesday], it wasn’t just the home run, it was the swings… every time up.” Terry Collins continues, Even if he didn’t hit the ball, he took better swings, more aggressive swings, and I think the maybe time down there [Vegas] really did help him.”
D’Arnaud, who struggled with the Mets prior to being sent down to Vegas, came back with a new outlook of his situation, “I needed to get back to the basics and simplify it, and not over think anything.” D’Arnaud continued, “I forgot how fun this game really was.”
Collins feels his 7-8-9 batters need to be more productive during the games and it may start with d’Arnaud, “When you have a guy like Travis who can hit a homer or drive some runs in, its going to be a big factor as we continue on, we need that spot in the line up to produce some runs, says Collins.
A game like this can really help to build some needed confidence for the Mets young catcher, and it doesn’t hurt that it came against a pitcher that was also once touted as a high rated prospect for the Mets. At least for the Mets, the newest top prospect prevailed.
(Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac)
(Feature Photo: John Munson/The Star-Ledger)
