In a game that can be best described as one with mixed emotions, the New York Mets (83 – 75) defeated the Miami Marlins, (3)box score).
The bad was the fact the Mets were eliminated from any playoff contention as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds, 9-2. Also, Mets infielderJeff McNeilwas hit by a pitch in the sixth inning that resulted in a fractured right distal ulnar fracture. He will be out for the remainder of the year.
The good was the continued brilliance of Mets starterJacob deGrom(10 – 8, 2. (ERA). He went seven innings on Wednesday and was terrific. It has been a real privilege to cover him this year. His 2. 43 ERA is second in the National League toHyun-Jin Ryu, and depending on what Ryu does in his final regular start of the year against San Francisco on Saturday, deGrom could conceivably lead the league in ERA as well. He has put together two consecutive years of pitching that rival almost any in recent history.
And then there’s the odds-on favorite to win Rookie-of-the-Year,Pete Alonso. He smashed his 51 st home run of the year in the second inning, a 437 – foot three-run bomb. He is trying to become the first rookie in MLB history to lead baseball in home runs outright.
So though there’s sadness in the fact that the Mets will be home in October, there is some light and hope for the future as the Mets stars really shone tonight.
Pitching
Jacob deGrom was on the mound for the Mets making his 32 nd start of the year.
With the Mets scoring early and often in this game, the focus in the early stages was on the Mets ace and reigningCy YoungAward winner and his season stats.
Through the first five innings, deGrom allowed only two hits while striking out five. One particular strikeout in the second inning was particularly noteworthy. Marlins’ catcherJorge Alfarowas at the dish and was fanned by deGrom, Jake’s second of the game and (th of the season.)
The 250 strikeouts marked the second straight year that deGrom has struck out at least 250 batters. He became only the third pitcher in Mets history to accomplish this feat. The other two were pretty good pitchers:Tom Seaverin 1970, 1971 andDwight Goodenin 1985, 1985. Pretty rarefied company for Mr. deGrom.
Through five innings deGrom’s scoreless inning streak rose to 21 in a row while his ERA fell to 2. 46. He retired the Marlins in order in the sixth. At this point in the game, deGrom had retired 11 in a row.
The seventh inning was deGrom’s last and he set down the Marlins 1-2-3. He finished the evening retiring the last 14 in a row he faced. His scoreless inning streak is at 23 and his ERA was reduced to 2. 43. His final line was 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K, (pitches) (strikes). Jacob finishes the year with 204 IP (second in NL), 255 Ks (first), 2. 43 ERA (second) 97 WHIP (first). As Gary Cohen said on the broadcast, ‘the trophy is waiting.’
Tyler Bashlorpitched the eighth inning and was effective, striking out two Marlins in the frame.
Drew Gagnoncame into the game to finish things up. He gave up three runs (none earned) to account for the final score.
Offense
The Mets managed 12 hits against the Marlins on Wednesday.
New York broke the ice two batters in the game.Brandon Nimmowalked to start things. Jeff McNeil followed with a double to right scoring Nimmo and give the Mets the early lead. The double was McNeil’s 38 th of the year. He has 74 RBIs. After Pete Alonso struck out,Michael Confortocontinued his recent hot hitting by doubling into the right field corner to score McNeil and give the Mets a 2-0 lead.
Conforto has 92 RBIs for the year (a career-high). The double was Michael’s 28 th of the year. Conforto went to third on an error byLewis Brinsonand set the table forWilson Ramos. Ramos, when he comes up with a runner on third and fewer than two outs, has a 70% success rate at scoring the run. He did not disappoint, as he hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Conforto and stake the Mets and deGrom to a 3-0 lead.
The Mets broke the game open in the second, scoring four runs to take a 7-0 lead.Todd Frazierled off with a single, followed by a beautiful hit-and-run by deGrom to put runners on the corners. It was Jake’s 13 th hit of the year. Nimmo walked for the second time to load the bases. McNeil followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right-center to score Frazier and extend the Mets lead to 4-0. McNeil’s second RBI of the game gives him 75 th RBI on the season.
Alonso, whose bat has been a bit quiet since his 50 th home run over the weekend, ended that with a flourish as he unloaded a long homer to center, a three-run shot, to give the Mets a 7-0 lead. He is now only one home run shy of the ML record for homers in a season by a rookie. The three RBIs give Pete 118 on the season. It was his 25 th home run at home this season, which is also a new record for the Mets.
He brokeDarryl Strawberry‘s mark of 24, which was accomplished in 1990. It was a good time for Alonso’s 51 st four-bagger as his closest pursuer ,Eugenio Suarez, hit his 49 th homer of the season for the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Pete is trying to become the first rookie in the modern era to lead MLB outright in home runs in a season per Elias. The rookie phenom has been remarkable.
The onslaught continued in the third as the Mets scored a pair to make the score 9-0.Robinson Canodoubled to the opposite field to lead-off, his 28 th double of the year.Amed Rosariowas next, and he stroked his 30 th double of the year to score Cano to make the score 8-0. It was Amed’s 71 st RBI of the campaign. Two batters later, Nimmo also doubled (the Mets fifth of the game) to score Rosario to make the score 9-0.
Some concern for Mets fans in the sixth, as McNeil was hit by a pitch for the 21 st time this season. It appeared to be on the right hand near the wrist. He was removed from the game asJuan Lagarescame in to run for him. Conforto hit his second double of the game in the frame, but the Mets failed to score.
In the seventh, the Mets made it 10 – 0 on an RBI single byRajai DavisscoringJoe Panikwho had walked.
During the seventh, it was learned that Jeff McNeil will miss the rest of the season with a right distal ulnal fracture. He finishes the seasons batting. 318 with (HRs, ****************************************************************************** (RBIs and) doubles. He had a great first full year for the Mets.
On Deck
The Mets try to win the series against the Marlins on Thursday in the conclusion of their four-game set.Zack Wheeler(11 – 7, 3. 99 ERA) will take the ball for New York in what could be his last start as a Met. For the first time in his eight and a half year tenure in the Mets organization, Wheeler will be eligible for free agency in the upcoming offseason.
Wheeler has allowed only one earned run in each of his last five outings. He has had some success against Miami going 7-2 with a 1. (ERA in) ************************************************************************************************* (starts.)
RookieJordan Yamamoto(4-5, 4. 83 ERA) pitches for the Marlins. Yamamoto has lost his last five decisions dating back to July 21. Last out against the Washington Nationals, he allowed two runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Yamamoto has faced the Mets once this year, a 7-2 Mets win. Both Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto had two RBIs off the rookie in that game.
First pitch is scheduled for 7: 10 pm The game will be televised on SNY and broadcast on WCBS – 880 AM.
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