Game 2 of 162
Marlins 2 - Mets 1 (Loan Depot Park, Miami)
Mets record: 1-1
Mets streak: Lost 1
WP - Jesus Luzardo (1-0)
LP - David Peterson (0-1)
SV - A.J. Puk (1)
Seat on the Korner:
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Jorge Soler was reponsible for the only run of the game through the first 7 and 1/2 innings, a 2nd inning home run off Peterson. He also made two great defensive plays: A leaping catch at the wall to rob Pete Alonso of an extra base hit, and a diving catch to rob Starling Marte of a game tying hit in the top of the 8th.
Need to Know
The new pitch clock rules collided with low scoring to make the time of this game 2 hours and 9 minutes.
The Mets couldn't get anything going against Jesus Luzardo, who pitched 5 and 2/3's innings for the win. The Mets could only scratch two hits against him.
Their best chance against Luzardo came in the 6th on a two out rally. Brandon Nimmo walked on a close 3-2 pitch, followed by a Starling Marte single and a walk to Lindor. Skip Schumaker then pulled a frustrated Luzardo and brought in J.T. Chargois to face Pete Alonso with the bases loaded. Alonso tagged a pitch to left center but Chisholm went and got it to end the inning.
David Peterson didn't fare too badly. In five innings pitched, he struck out five, walked one, and gave up 8 hits, including the Soler home run. But he needed his defense to bail him out and they did. Alonso turned a 3-6 double play in the first, Nimmo made a diving catch in the 4th, and Jeff McNeil made a marvelous play on an infield single by Garrett Cooper in the 5th. After the ball got by Alonso, McNeil went to short right field to retrive the ball, and threw out Jon Berti trying to score from second on the play.
Turning Point
This game had a lot to choose from, with all the great defensive plays back and forth. But Soler's catch in the 8th was ultimately the one. Daniel Vogelbach hit a one out double to center field, just eluding a diving Jazz Chisholm, and the Mets seemed to have life for a late comeback. But after Brandon Nimmo flied out, Marte lined one hard to right field. Soler, not exactly known for his defense, then ended the inning with his second great play of the game. Chisholm would them back up that effort with a solo HR to make it 2-0 Miami, making Soler's play hurt that much more.
Three Keys
John Curtiss made his Mets debut tonight, and gave up the 9th inning home run to Chisholm, which turned out to be the margin of victory.
This was Schumaker's first win as a major league manager.
Pete Alonso's first hit of the season was his 9th inning home run, the 147th of his career. He's now 1 for 8 in the very young season.
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