Another week, another deGrominant output. The Mets’ ace was at it again against a potent Bronx Bombers’ lineup. The struggling crosstown ace, Luis Severino, has not had even close to his best stuff recently – and last night was no different.
Amed Rosario opened the game with his first career lead-off home run, followed by your (hopefully) 2019 starting second baseman Jeff McNeil, who singled home Brandon Nimmo.
deGrom wavered a bit in the third after a McNeil error allowed Giancarlo Stanton to reach base and eventually score on an Aaron Hicks single.
Despite this, deGrom entered into his coveted “get everybody out mode” and proceeded to mow down the Yankee lineup with total ease. He eventually stuck out 12 in 6.2 innings pitched and allowed just seven batters to reach via a hit or walk.
Though he probably should have been dealt at the deadline, Jose Bautista’s home run in the fourth to “deep right” against Sevy allowed the should-be Cy Young to enter in cruise control. Bautista had entered the game two for his last 32.
For the Mets, a win against the Yankees is always welcome – but last night the players played the way we all thought they would back in March. Jerry Blevins did the job against a lefty in Brett Gardner, Todd Frazier crushed a hanging slider from AJ Cole for a crucial round-tripper in the sixth, the young core of Michael Conforto, Nimmo, Rosario and McNeil all showed out – and perhaps most importantly, the run support was there.
Eventually, the score after the final out was 8-5, and incredibly the Mets’ have now scored eight runs in each of deGrom’s last two starts after combining for a total of eights runs in his previous three before that.
It is these types of games that show us the potential of what Sandy Alderson and staff were trying to do. However (and obviously), there is no real consistency. I touched on it last week – and maybe it just happens to be a coincidence when I write these recaps – but these are the types of games that show what could be, but in reality what truly isn’t.
Regardless, a Subway Series victory is certainly a boost of confidence all the way from the front office to the players to the fans watching at home.
Photo credit: Amed Rosario – USA Today Sports