Game 57 of 162
Mets 4 Phillies 2 (Citi Field, Flushing, NY)
Mets record: 30-27
Mets streak: Won 3
WP - Max Scherzer (5-2)
LP - Taijuan Walker (4-3)
SV - Drew Smith (2)
Seat on the Korner: Max Scherzer
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.
The Mets needed length from their starter, and for the second day in a row, got it, this time from Max Scherzer, who after surrendering two runs in the top of the first -- one on a throwing error by catcher Francisco Alvarez and the other on a sacrifice fly -- settled down and lasted seven innings, striking out nine and giving up only five hits. A masterful performance by the Mets' ace. But if Scherzer were on Kiners Korner, he might be talking about something else:
Need to Know
The Mets are now 16-0 when their starter goes six innings and 6-0 when he goes seven.
This was Scherzer's 30th career start against the Phillies and the win improved his record to 17-5 against them, the most wins for any active pitcher versus Philadelphia and the most wins Scherzer has against a single opponent.
The win was the Mets' eighth straight at Citi Field, the longest streak since winning nine consecutive from May 18-June 14 last year.
The Phillies scored their first run on an ill-advised throw by Francisco Alvarez on Trea Turner's steal of third in the first inning. Alvarez didn't have a good angle to get off a throw with a right-handed batter, Nick Castellanos, at the plate. Bryce Harper, who had walked, advanced to third on the error and scored on a Castellanos sacrifice fly. That was it for the Phils from then on.
The Mets have now homered in 15 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors.
Turning Point
Trailing, 2-1 in the fourth, with Starling Marte on base after being hit by a pitch and a steal of second, Mark Canha homered to left center, his second home run in as many games, to give the Mets the lead. It was essentially smooth sailing after that. The Mets would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a Mark Vientos pich-hit sacrifice fly.
Three Keys
With both Adam Ottavino and David Robertson unavailable because both pitched on Tuesday and Wednesday, the B-pen rose to the occasion. Jeff Brigham pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, Brooks Raley struck out Bryce Harper to start the 9th and Kyle Schwarber after Castellanos singled, and Drew Smith got a one-pitch save by retiring pinch hitter Drew Ellis on a fly ball to end the game.
The Mets were held to four hits, but three of them led to runs: a Jeff McNeil single in the third, Canha's home run in the fourth and Brett Baty's double in the sixth; he scored on Vientos' sac fly.
Even after yielding the two first-inning runs, Scherzer always seemed in control of the game. He threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of the 26 batters he faced, and only Castellanos had a good day at the plate.
Comentários