Jul 5, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill (38) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets (44-37) sent Tylor Megill to the mound to oppose Milwaukee Brewers (51-35) ace Brandon Woodruff, as the two first-place teams opened a three-game series at Citi Field on Monday.
The 25-year-old Megill came into the game after having been praised by manager Luis Rojas for his first two MLB starts. However, he had a difficult challenge to face in his third MLB start. He was facing a pitcher who entered the game with the third-best ERA (1.87) in baseball, and facing a first place team who had just won 11 in a row before having that streak snapped on Sunday.
Megill started his night off by retiring Luis Urias on a lineout after throwing him a couple of mid-90 MPH fastballs. He followed that up with a six-pitch strikeout of Christian Yelich before getting into some mild two-out trouble.
He gave up a double to Willy Adames and plunked Omar Narvaez to put two runners on. He then closed the door on the inning by getting Tyrone Taylor looking at a 95 MPH fastball by the knees.
In the second inning, Jace Peterson ran up Megill’s pitch count by working out a nine-pitch leadoff walk. With his pitch count at 30 after one-plus inning, Megill needed to wrap things up quick in the second. He was able to do that by getting a four-pitch strikeout and four-pitch double play to end the inning.
Megill dominated in the third. He struck out Woodruff on a four-seam fastball above the strike zone, got Urias to ground out on three pitches, and struck out Yelich with a changeup low and outside.
In the fourth, Megill retired Adames on a groundout to start off the inning. Megill did not fare well against his next batter as Narvaez took him deep on a changeup down the middle. Megill rebounded with a strikeout of Taylor and then finished the inning off by getting Peterson to fly out to left field.
Megill started off the fifth inning by firing three fastballs down the strike zone to strike out Keston Hiura. He followed that up by inducing a fly out to left field five pitches later. Megill struggled against his pitching counterpart, as Woodruff worked out a six-pitch walk against him. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner gave Megill a mound visit before he got Urias to ground out to end his night.
Overall Megill went five innings and gave up one run (on a home run), two hits, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch. He used 92 pitches to get his 15 outs, and registered seven strikeouts along the way. Although he did not receive the win, Megill played a vital role in the important 4-2 victory over the Brewers.
