WHO WON:
Not the Mets, who are now sweep-less in Seattle
WHAT HAPPENED, JACOB DEGROM PITCHED WELL:
This wasn’t Jacob deGrom’s finest performance of the year, but it was strong. He had a rough second inning after being hit in the leg by a Nelson Cruz single. From that point on, deGrom let up two more hits and ended up hitting Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger in the nose with a fastball. After the inning had ended, deGrom had surrendered two runs on as many hits. For the most part, that would be the last time the Mariners got to deGrom. The only other hit he gave up was a single to Ben Gamel, who later scored after he advanced to third with a Neil Walker throwing error on the front-end of a potential double-play.
All-in-all, 10 strikeouts in six innings of work usually signifies a good day at the yard. deGrom leaned more on his changeup against a lineup flush with lefties, and it generated a fair number of whiffs. Walker didn’t have the best day in the field, but deGrom was helped by a couple of nice diving plays by Michael Conforto and Jay Bruce in their respective outfield positions. It wasn’t his best, but he certainly pitched well enough to keep the Mets in the game.
WHAT HAPPENED, MICHAEL CONFORTO IS STILL GOOD:
I mean, we didn’t ever doubt this. We’ve never doubted this. Out of all that has gone down in this garbage-fire of a year, Michael Conforto has been our One True Hero. On Saturday, he did about everything he could to keep the Mets in the game. A diving play in the third inning prevented what would have been a Kyle Seager double from scoring a run. In the eighth, Conforto kept picking on Seager and decided to throw him out at the plate to hold the deficit to two runs. He then came up in the top of the ninth and singled just past Robinson Cano to cut the Mariners lead to one. That is as close as the Mets would get, and Conforto did everything he could to help them claw back into the game.
Overall it felt like the Mets put a couple late charges into a comeback attempt, however they were stymied each time. They got two runners on to start out the fifth inning, then three consecutive fly outs ended the inning. After two quick outs in the sixth, the Mets loaded the bases and got their first run of the day after Tony Zych walked in Yoenis Cespedes. That effort soon ended on a Jose Reyes fly out. When the seventh inning rolled around, Travis d’Arnaud and Michael Conforto found themselves on second and first, respectively, to lead off the inning. That attempt to score ended when an Asdrubal Cabrera double play ball was followed by a Jay Bruce strike out.
For the scouts in the stands watching Asdrubal Cabrera, it was not his best game. For anyone watching Jose Reyes, it was more of the same poor play that will certainly result in…him continuing to be an everyday player while Amed Rosario is painted as “not ready.” Sigh.
WHAT HAPPENED, YESTERDAY:
The Mets played well, but ultimately couldn’t find that one big hit despite plenty of chances in the later innings. Conforto flashed his arm and range, while deGrom bounced back from a rough second inning.
WHAT HAPPENS, TODAY:
The Mets will look to finish up their series against the Seattle Mariners before traveling to Colorado to face the Rockies. With the deadline looming, and no game on Monday, this might be our last chance to see some of Addison Reed, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson, or Rene Rivera in a Mets jersey. Seth Lugo will face James Paxton, as the Mets get one last try to win a Sunday game in July.
Photo credit: Joe Nicholson – USA Today Sports
Small correction – deGrom only gave up 2 runs in the second inning. The Walker error came in the 3rd inning and allowed the 3rd run (unearned) to eventually score.