Mets Series Review Subway Sweep
Starting spreading the news, the New York Mets have spared with the New York Yankees and have sent the best team in MLB to the canvas, winning the first two games of the Subway Series at Citi Field. A week before the trade deadline, the series was a significant test for the Mets, who had played mediocre baseball since June 1st. The Mets went into the series, losing two of three to the Padres as their bats struggled. The Mets' pitching, however, was carrying the team, as they had favorable pitching matchups against the Bronx Bombers in the Citi Field stop on the Subway Series.
The opener saw Taijuan Walker facing Jordan Montgomery. A sellout helped give the game a postseason feel, as the Mets and Yankees were both in first place at the same time during a Subway Series meeting. Walker had a rough start, giving up back-to-back home runs to Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo in the first inning. Taijuan Walker, after the game, said he was throwing too hard, as he was making his first start after the All-Star Game.
The Mets responded to the Yankees' early runs by scoring four to take the lead. The Mets' rally began with a home run by Starling Marte. Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso followed with doubles as Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run home run. Taijuan Walker walked a fine line as the Yankees had their chances, but the Mets' pitcher was able to get the big outs when needed. This included a pick-off of Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the second inning when the Yankees had runners at the corners with one out.
The Mets added a run in the third, with the aid of an error by Josh Donaldson, to take a 5-2 lead. The Yankees got a run back in the fourth and loaded the bases with Anthony Rizzo at the plate, following a walk to Aaron Judge. Taijuan Walker seemed to be on the ropes as Rizzo had a 3-0 count. Giving the green light, Rizzo drove the ball to the deepest part of the ballpark, but Brandon Nimmo was able to reel in the ball a few steps from the wall to end the inning. Taijuan Walked settled down and retired the next six batters as he gritted his way through six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits.
Adam Ottavino came into pitch in the seventh inning and had two runners on base after a single by Judge and hit batter against Rizzo. Trying a double steal, Rizzo was thrown out at second base, as Ottavino ended the inning by getting Gleyber Torres to pop up to Pete Alonso. Ottavinio got the first two outs in the eighth inning but walked Aaron Hicks, leading to the call for the trumpets. Edwin Diaz faced pinch hitter Joey Gallo and easily struck out the Yankees' most feeble player, to the disgust of their biggest fans. The Mets added a run in the bottom of the eighth, as the Yankees got two runs on board with an infield hit by Jose Trevino and an error by Diaz on a ball hit by Aaron Judge that should have been a game-ending double play. Edwin Diaz, however, buckled down and struck out Rizzo and Torres to end the game.
The Mets had Max Scherzer on the mound for the second game as Domingo German made the start for the Yankees. The Mets jumped on German in the second inning, as Pete Alonso hit his 26th home run of the season. The Yankees had a chance to answer in the third inning, but Scherzer struck out Aaron Judge with two runners on base. The Mets added a run as Tomas Nido doubled and came on a single by Francisco Lindor to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.
Max Scherzer was not overpowering on Wednesday night, as the Yankees had plenty of good contact. The balls, however, were hit right at the Mets' fielders, as Aaron Judge looked rather feeble, wearing the Silver Sombrero for his first three strikeout game. Running on fumes in the seventh, Scherzer got Judge to whiff with two runners on base, finishing his out with six strikeouts while allowing two walks and five hits.
In the eighth inning, David Peterson was given the opportunity to show he could be the Mets lefty out of the bullpen. It was a test for the Mets' fifth starter, who will be out of the rotation when Jacob deGrom returns. Peterson failed miserably, waking Anthony Rizzo before Gelyber Torres tied the game with a home run. After a strikeout by Matt Carpenter, Seth Lugo came into pitch and had perhaps his best outing of the season, retiring five batters while giving up one hit, as Judge grounded out to end the ninth.
Wandy Peralta was on the mound for the Yankees in the ninth, as Clay Holmes was used in the eighth, he was greeted by a double off the bat of Eduardo Escobar. Tomas Nido had a successful sacrifice to get Escobar to third. Following an infield hit by Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte had a walk-off hit to give the Mets a 3-2 win for the sweep in Citi Field.