Mets sweep doubleheader, and their team-like approach to Tuesday demonstrated resilience
Mets sweep doubleheader, and their team-like approach to Tuesday demonstrated resilience
Carlos Carrasco and the bullpen were dynamite and Pete Alonso led the pass-the-baton offense on Tuesday
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets swept their doubleheader against the Braves on Tuesday, taking game 1 by a score of 5-4 (box) and then shutting the Braves out in the nightcap 3-0 (box)
LHP David Peterson allowed four earned runs in the first game, but the bullpen picked him up with four scoreless innings of relief
RHP Carlos Carrasco hurled eight shutout innings in game 2
The Mets bullpen threw five scoreless innings of relief in the doubleheader
Pete Alonso tallied four hits and three RBI, including one two-out RBI in game 1 and his fifth home run of the season in game 2
RHP Max Scherzer was ejected from the nightcap after arguing balls and strikes
Roster Moves 📰
RHP Trevor May was placed on the 15-day IL with right triceps inflammation
RHP Adonis Medina was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
LHP David Peterson was recalled as the 27th player for the doubleheader, and returned to Triple-A Syracuse following the end of the second game
Who’s Hot🔥
RHP Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 3.30 ERA) is the only starting pitcher in the major leagues with at least two outings of seven innings or more
INF Dominic Smith has five RBI in his last two starts
Pete Alonso’s four homers as a designated hitter lead the National League and are tied for the most by any DH in the majors
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (18-8) vs. Braves (11-15)
Where: Citi Field — Flushing, NY
Starters: RHP Tylor Megill (4-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. RHP Ian Anderson (2-1, 4.66 ERA)
When: 1:10 PM EDT
A true, team-like effort led the positive response to Monday’s downer 📝
There were so many great things which came out of Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep of the Braves.
Between the pass-the-baton offense in game 1, to the strong relief work combined in both games, to Carlos Carrasco’s ace-like effort in game 2, to Pete Alonso’s blue-collar approach at the plate as he continues to go to the opposite field, each of these positives deserve their own 500-word commentary in tribute to what was another fantastic day for the ball club.
In some form or another, they will get their own part to this essay, as they were all not just a part of the groundwork for the jolt this doubleheader sweep provided the Mets, and not just a representation of the book definition of team wins, but also the mark of resiliency after what was really a crummy day for the club in multiple facets on Monday night in their 5-2 loss to Atlanta.
Monday night featured a lot of head nodding between Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Chris Bassitt thanks to some mental mistakes and blown calls by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild. There were two moments in particular which seemingly set the tone for that game - Nimmo’s base running mistake when he misread a flyball while on second base and the non-strike three call on a pitch Bassitt literally threw down the middle which would’ve ended a fifth inning threat, instead resulting in more pitches being thrown and more batters being faced and changing the complexion of the game entirely.
It was one of those classic Mets/Braves contests where nothing seemed to go right for the Mets and the Braves prevailed thanks to better execution. It felt like a tone setter for an important, early season series against their division rivals.
But unlike what other Mets clubs might have done in the past, this club quickly turned the page and rebounded. And, they were able to do it in the face of more poor officiating by that very same umpire, Chad Fairchild.
The day started in a similar way to the way it ended - with an opposite field RBI for Alonso, helping the club to jump out to an early 4-1 lead on Atlanta. That one run scored against the Mets came as a result of another blown call by Fairchild in the second, who was in charge of the officiating at third base in this game. Braves SS Dansby Swanson grounded one up the third base line, clearly in foul territory. With the ball in front of him, Fairchild called it fair, setting up a run scoring opportunity for Travis Demeritte who cashed in on the break.
But that call wouldn’t spoil the afternoon for the Mets.
They immediately responded with two more runs in the second, although they had to get scrappy in the process. Francisco Lindor netted one on a ground out and then Alonso followed up with yet another RBI single, this time to the left side.
More team baseball netted the Mets fifth and final run in the fourth inning thanks to Travis Jankowski’s speed and his ability to reach base on a fielders choice, a steal of second and the take of third on a throwing error by Travis d'Arnaud. The team-like effort was rewarded with a sac fly from Mark Canha.
“Guys like Jankowski and Guillorme,” Showalter explained, “they bring it in situations like this. Travis has been a pro, that’s why we wanted to keep him. He brings some tools that we need. He’s a great piece for us and good teammate and plays the game right.”
The five runs stood up despite a small storm created by Matt Olson, who got the Braves within one with a fifth inning three-run home run. The bullpen picked up David Peterson with four scoreless innings as the Mets were able to walk the path to a win, the thin ice not withstanding.
Then came the nightcap, and it was Cookie Dough Dynamo for the Mets.
After a really, really rough outing last week in St. Louis, Carlos Carrasco delivered an ace-like performance, efficiently hurling eight shutout innings despite some early traffic. In between, Carrasco netted 17 swings-and-misses on his fastball/slider combination and aside from Olson and Ronald Acuña Jr. who combined to rack up three doubles against him, Carrasco scattered just four other singles over those eight magnificent innings.
And again, the Mets offense finished the day the way it started, with an opposite field RBI from Alonso, this time a solo home run which flew 378 feet over the right-centerfield fence.
“This team is a really good team and that’s just the beauty of it: everybody in this lineup can contribute on any given night and help the team win,” Dominic Smith said after the game. “That’s what makes a good ballclub.”
Normally, I don’t like to recall instances from a game (or in this case, games) like this, but this speaks to the underlying theme of the afternoon - a team-wide effort and the ability to put a negative night behind them quickly. Even Carrasco’s outing - while on the surface appears simply as a dominant performance - went a long way towards saving a bullpen which is without Trevor May, was taxed for four innings in game 1 and has a quick turnaround on Wednesday with the 1:10 PM start.
“That was my goal, just going in there and throwing as many innings as I can to save the bullpen,” Carrasco explained afterwards.
A year ago, maybe this team doesnt put that bad night on Monday behind them. All too often in July, August and September, one bad night turned into two, which doubled into four and suddenly equated to a free fall out of first place and into the dungeon of another meaningless September. But it’s clear this is a different Mets club, and while the roster is better and deeper in most facets, leadership clearly matters in moments like this during a season, that which every club will endure on multiple occasions.
Buck Showalter has seen that all too often in his career, so he knows how to gather the troops and not let one bad night spill over to the next.
The Mets have a chance for another series win today against the Braves, weather permitting. It would be their eight-straight series win, extending their franchise mark to start a season.
If they can come away with the win, it would be as well-earned as any they’ve played to-date in 2022.
Down on the Farm 🌾
Alex Ramirez: (SS, No. 6 prospect): 4-for-5, 2B
Junior Santos: (RHP, No. 16 prospect): 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K
José Butto: (RHP, No. 12 prospect): 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K
Nick Plummer: (OF, No. 8 prospect): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Box Scores: Triple-A | Double-A | High-A | Single-A
Around the League 🚩
Astros manager Dusty Baker recorded win no. 2000 on Tuesday night
The Yankees continued their white hot run in Toronto with a 9-1 over the Blue Jays to extend their winning streak to 11
Royals super-prospect Bobby Witt, Jr. hit his first big league home run in the Royals 7-1 win over the Cardinals
Michael Wacha won a pitchers duel over Noah Syndergaard as the Angels were shutout by the Red Sox 4-0 at Fenway Park
The Angels optioned top prospect Jo Adell to Triple-A after he produced a .673 OPS over the season’s first 19 games
Twins 1B Miguel Sanó will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee