Comeback Gives Mets Best Start In Club History
The New York Mets could not have asked for a better start for their new manager Mickey Callaway. So far Callaway has made the right calls and pushed all the right buttons in his young managerial career. Tonight's 8-6 win over the Miami Marlins has given both the 2018 Mets and Mickey Callaway nine wins in their first ten games, the best start in franchise history.
Tonight's win was gritty as it showed the Mets had heart. Despite coughing up a 3-0 lead, the Mets battled back down 4-3 and 6-4 late to rally. So far, it seems that the team has put it's trust in the young manager, and Mickey is willing to do the same for his team.
Jacob deGrom started this one and factored into a no-decision. deGrom's numbers were 6 innings, 4 earned runs, 7 hits, a walk and 6 strike outs. While the numbers looked mediocre for deGrom, he only had one bad inning and pitched brilliantly in the other five. Jacob Rahme almost coughed up the game after giving up 2 runs in the 7th on 3 hits. However, the Mets got him off the hook.
Hansel Robles wound up getting the win despite having pitched a shaky 8th inning. Robles didn't allow a run but gave up a hit and a walk while striking out 2. Robles is now 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Jeurys Familia pitched a 1-2-3 9th to pick up his 6th save. Paul Sewald also pitched in this one, getting the final out of the 7th.
Asdrubal Cabrera is showing off the power in his bat. Cabrera went 2-4 with 2 home runs tonight. Cabrera is batting .341 with 3 home runs and 5 RBIs. Wilmer Flores went 2-5 tonight with a home run tonight as well and 2 RBIs.
Things started off good for the Mets. In the top of the first, Michael Conforto lead off lining a single to left center. After Cespedes struck out, Flores hit a double over the left fielder Derek Dietrich's head to score Conforto and give the Mets a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the 4th, Marlins starting pitcher Caleb Smith gave up the first of Cabrera's home runs on a 2-2 count four-seam fastball that gave the Mets a 2-0 lead. Cabrera's home run was hit to left.
In the top of the 5th with one out, Amed Rosario doubled to left. Conforto then dumped in a single to left to score Rosario and give the Mets a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the 5th with one out, pinch hitter Yadiel Rivera reached on an infield single to third. Dietrich then grounded a single into right. Miguel Rojas then grounded a single up the middle, into center, to score Rivera and cut the lead to 3-1. Dietrich went to third on the play. Starlin Castro's fly out to right made Dietrich score on the play after right fielder Conforto's throw was off line and cut the lead to 3-2. Rojas went to second on the throw. Then, Justin Bour hit a 2-run home run to left to give the Marlins a 4-3 lead.
In the top of the 6th with Odrisamer Despaigne pitching, Todd Frazier lead off with a double off the right center track. Cabrera's fly out to left allowed Frazier to go to third. After Kevin Plawecki drew a walk, Juan Lagares' fly out allowed Frazier to come home with the tying run at 4-4.
In the bottom of the 7th with Rhame pitching, Dietrich lead off with an infield single to second. Rojas was thrown out on a sacrifice bunt that allowed Dietrich to go to second. Castro's fly out to center allowed Dietrich to go to third. Then Bour hit his second home run of the game, a 2-run shot to left to give the Marlins a 6-4 lead.
In the top of the 8th with Kyle Barraclough pitching, Flores hit a solo to left center on a 2-2 four seam fastball up and in to cut the Marlins lead to 6-5. After Frazier struck out, Cabrera took a risk on a 3-0 count. Cabrera swung at a 94-mph four-seamed fastball right down the middle and drove it into the upper deck of Marlins Park to tie the game at 6-6.
In the top of the 9th with Brad Ziegler pitching with one out, Rosario grounded a ball to third baseman Brian Anderson. Anderson fielded the ball but threw it away which allowed Rosario to be safe at first. After Conforto drew a walk, Cespedes hit a double to left that scored both Rosario and Conforto to give the Mets an 8-6 lead. Cespedes went to third on the throw home to try to gun down Conforto. Flores' grounder to short got Cespedes out at home on the tag. Familia then came on in the bottom of the 9th to save the game and wrap up the Mets 8-6 victory.
Some notes from today. The Mets promoted Corey Oswalt to help the tired bullpen. In doing so, they optioned outfielder Brandon Nimmo to triple-A Las Vegas. The Mets also made a deal with the New York Yankees today. The Mets traded L.J. Mazzilli to the Yankees for single-A player Kendall Coleman. This was the 15th time that both New York teams made a trade.
Wednesday, the Mets look to try to sweep the Marlins. Newly promoted Zack Wheeler will get the start for the Mets against Jarlin Garcia (0-0, 1.80 ERA) of the Marlins. First pitch is at 7:10pm. The game can be seen on SNY and can be heard on 710am WOR and 1050am ESPN Deportes.