Mets Reaction April 18, 2021: Nail Biters in the Rockies
At the end of the second week of the season for the New York Mets, the starting pitching is fantastic, and the bats are pathetic as they won two of three at Coors Field, despite scoring just eight runs in the hitter's paradise. The series win gives the Mets two straight series wins, which they did not accomplish in the truncated 2020 season.
As with everything this season for the Mets, the series started with a postponement due to snow on Friday. It was the seventh postponement of the season for the Mets, who played their second doubleheader in a week on Saturday. Jacob deGrom, who was slated as the starter before Thursday's rainout in New York and again Friday, started the first game of the doubleheader. Early in the game, deGrom appeared uncomfortable as he gave up a double to Charlie Blackmon doubled to lead off the second and issued a walk to C.J. Cron. However, just when you thought he was on the ropes, deGrom gathered himself and dominated, striking out the next nine batters. Meanwhile, the Mets got Jacob deGrom a run in the third.
One away from tying Tom Seaver's record of ten straight strikeouts as he took the mound in the fifth, deGrom saw the team let him down again as the streak ended with a throwing error by Jeff McNeil. The Rockies would end up with three unearned runs as Michael Conforto's throw home to Dom Nunez sailed. The poor throw seemed to upset deGrom as he gave up a home run to Raimel Tapia. Down 3-1 in the sixth inning, the Mets needed to rally quickly in the seven-inning game. Pete Alonso started the comeback with a home run. Proving once again after allowing runs or scoring runs the next half-inning is big as putting up a zero keeps the momentum on your side.
Down 3-2 in the seventh with Daniel Bard on the mound for the save, James McCann led off with a single. Albert Almora came on to pinch run and scored on Jonathan Villar's double. It was the third big hit by Villar this week, as he has proven to be a valuable bench asset. Francisco Lindor delivered his biggest hit of the season, scoring Villar to give the Mets the lead. A 4-3 lead that would stand as Edwin Diaz was untouchable, striking out the side to allow Jacob de Grom to get his first win of the season. For deGrom, it was his second straight 14-strikeout game, equaling a career-high.
The second game saw Joey Lucchesi get his first start of the season. He had not pitched in ten days and was roughed up in the first inning, allowing three runs. Colorado had their top pitcher German Marquez on the mound, and he was strong, sawing through the Mets first nine hitters. Lucchesi settled in and kept it 3-0 before the Mets scratched out a pair of runs in the fourth. From there, Luis Rojas treated the game like it was spring training, getting innings for Robert Gsellman and Jacob Barnes. Gsellman allowed just one hit in his first inning of the season. Barnes, meanwhile, was horrific, allowing his second three-run homer and four runs to put the game out of reach as Marquez went the distance in a 7-2 win for the Rockies.
The rubber game was the Stro Show, as Marcus Stroman had the Rockies off balance all afternoon. Where deGrom had the Rockies missing, Stroman had the Rockies making soft contact and getting out. Stroman allowed just one hit over the first six innings. The Mets offense, meanwhile, continued to struggle. They managed two runs in the fourth inning, aided by an error by C.J. Cron at first. It would be the only runs the Mets produced on Sunday as Stroman had no margin for error. The Rockies got two hits in the seventh, scoring once, but Stroman struck out the next two batters with the tying run on second to preserve the 2-1 lead. In the eighth, Marcus Stroman made a crazy play to get Josh Fuentes, making a backhand stab and throwing the ball on 11 bounces while falling backward. After Stroman went eight innings, it fell on Edwin Diaz, who nearly gave up a home run. However, Ryan McMahon's long fly to left field landed in Brandon Nimmo's glove with his back against the wall. Trevor Story followed with a single as Coors Field sang the chorus to Your Love, Charlie Blackmon's walk-up song. Blackmon drove in the first run and was a threat to win the game as Diaz did not have the stuff he had Saturday. Trevor Story, meanwhile, looked to get into scoring position with a stolen base and was nailed by James McCann, who made a perfect throw to Lindor at second to end the game.
Edwin Diaz has been strong, while Marcus Stroman and Jacob deGrom both have ERAs under 1.00 as the Mets pitching has carried them to a 7-4 start. However, at some point, this team needs to get the bats going. Michael Conforto showed signs of life in Colorado, but Francisco Lindor needs to get it going. Jeff McNeil needs to get it going, and this team as a whole must do better with Runners in Scoring Position if they are to contend.