The Mets secured a commanding victory over the Diamondbacks 8-3 to open this mini-homestand at Citi Field. The Mets put up crooked numbers in back-to-back innings in the second and third to open up an early lead and played impeccable defense behind David Peterson.
The web gems began right away, as Pete Alonso made fantastic diving plays in both the first and second innings to help Peterson bounce back from a 23-pitch first inning for a quick second frame. The bats then got to work in the bottom of the second off Eduardo Rodriguez and most of the damage came with two outs. Luisangel Acuña laced a one-out single and then with two outs, Tyrone Taylor doubled down the left field line to get the Mets on the board. José Azócar followed with an RBI single and then Francisco Lindor went deep off the railing just beyond the left field wall to get the Mets out to an early 4-0 lead.
The Mets didn’t waste any time adding to their lead in the third. Pete Alonso walked to lead off the inning and then Starling Marte homered to extend the lead to 6-0. The Diamondbacks simply let Rodriguez wear it. With one out, Acuña dunked a bloop single for his second hit of the day and with two outs, Taylor drove him in yet again to give the Mets a seven-run lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Mets had possibly their best defensive inning of the season so far. Randal Grichuk hit a sharp grounder to third to lead off the inning that caromed off of Vientos’ glove, but Francisco Lindor made a fantastic play to snag the ricochet and throw Grichuk out at first base. Then Lordes Gurriel Jr. hit a fly ball to deep left center on which Tyrone Taylor fully laid out for the Superman catch. Finally, Eugenio Suárez hit another sharp grounder on which Lindor made another fantastic grab. To put the cherry on top, Pete Alonso hit a solo homer—the biggest blast yet on the night—to give the Mets an 8-0 lead in the fourth.
The Diamondbacks broke up the shutout in the fifth on a pair of singles by Gabriel Moreno and Pavin Smith and a Jorge Barrosa double. Juan Soto tried to make a diving play on Barrosa’s fly ball, but came up short. There was an uneasy moment where it looked like he may have messed up his shoulder on the play and the trainer came out to take a look at Soto, but he remained in the game. David Peterson bounced back to retire the next two batters and stop the bleeding, but unfortunately on a night when the Mets could have used some length, his pitch count had ballooned to the point where his night was done after five innings.
José Buttó came in the game in relief of Peterson and had a bounce back outing, pitching two scoreless, hitless innings with four strikeouts. Ryne Nelson pitched four scoreless innings in long relief for the Diamondbacks to soak up the remainder of the game and save the rest of their bullpen, walking two batters, but not allowing any hits in the outing. Newest Met New Jersey native Kevin Herget was tasked with finishing the game for the Mets. It was a busy eighth inning for Azócar in left, as all the outs were made via fly outs to left. With two outs, Azócar tried to make another play, leaping against the wall, but he was unable to secure the ball and Randal Grichuk was at second base safely with a double. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. then hit a grounder to third, but Pete Alonso was unable to dig out the throw from Mark Vientos, which he is usually so adept at doing. The ball bounced away from Pete instead and Grichuk crossed the plate with the Diamondbacks’ second run. Herget then got Eugenio Suárez to fly out to (you guessed it) left field to end the inning. Due to the error by Alonso, the run against Herget was unearned.
Herget gave up an additional run in the ninth and this one was earned. With one out, Pavin Smith hit a grounder to short on which Lindor made an off-balance, off-line throw to first that allowed Smith to reach safely with an infield hit. Garrett Hampson followed with a clean single and the runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Jorge Barrosa then grounded out to second, which scored Smith. But Herget finally put the inning to bed after that, striking out Geraldo Perdomo to end the game. With the victory, David Peterson earned his second win of the season.
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Box scores
Win Probability Added
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Big Mets winner: Tyrone Taylor, +14.0% WPA
Big Mets loser: Francisco Alvarez, -3.3% WPA
Mets pitchers: +15.0% WPA
Mets hitters: +35.0% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Francisco Lindor’s two-run homer in the second, +13.6% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Geraldo Perdomo’s single to lead off the game, -3.6% WPA
