Mets Spank Yanks in Subway Series Opener
Walker cruises, 1-2-3 combination lands, Dom delivers knockout punch
Well, that’s one way to snap out of a middling funk.
After going 4-6 over their previous ten games, seeing their lead in the National League East shrink to as little as a game-and-a-half (2.5 up on WSH heading into the day), the Mets’ offense showed up in force on Saturday.
Well, sort of. Of their 14 hits in an 8-3 win over the Yankees, 13 were singles. Dominic Smith’s two-run double in the sixth was New York’s only extra-base hit of the day.
It made no difference. The Mets put up their most runs since June 9 in Baltimore (14), and the uptick just happened to coincide with the return of Brandon Nimmo.
Ahead of Friday’s postponed game, Mets manager Luis Rojas was animatedly encouraged by his leadoff hitter’s return to the lineup.
"He’s really improved defensively, but right now the offense is the thing I can tell you I am most excited about,” Rojas said. “The ability to get on base and just the opportunity to sequence quality at-bats because I think he is someone who can get some rallies going for us and I think that is something we need, we haven’t done a lot of that in the last few days.”
Word, Luis. Word…
Nimmo, on the shelf since May 2 with a detached ligament in his left index finger, got right back to business on Saturday, going 3-for-6 with two runs scored in his first game back.
Better yet, Nimmo did exactly what Rojas (and the rest of us) hoped he would — he sparked the rest of the lineup.
The Mets’ one-through-three hitters — Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, and Smith — went a combined 8-for-15 with six runs scored, four RBIs (three for Dom), and a couple of bases-on-balls.
James McCann continued on his hot June with a bloop RBI base hit (.288/.341/.500 over 88 PA in June; 3-for-8 in July). Kevin Pillar drove in two. Jose Peraza added two hits.
Trickle-down offense in a group-effort win. We love to see that.
And we haven’t even gotten to Taijuan Walker’s outstanding afternoon in the bandbox they call Yankee Stadium.
The 28-year-old right-hander turned in another solid effort on Saturday, getting through five-and-two-thirds with two runs allowed on two hits, striking out five, and walking two.
Aaron Judge’s opposite-field solo shot in the sixth broke up Walker’s no-hit bid and the shutout.
With his ERA is down to a tidy 2.44 on the season, consideration for Walker’s inclusion on the National League All-Star team should be strong heading into this week’s announcements.
Jacob deGrom will assuredly be named to the squad. Marcus Stroman (will start Game 1 on Sunday) has made a formidable case for his selection, as well. Should be interesting.
Jeurys Familia picked up an inning-and-a-third of scoreless work, striking out three, and Drew Smith went two scoreless to wrap things up.
Wholly encouraging. Let the good times roll.
The Mets play a split-doubleheader against the Yanks on Sunday (2:05 PM on SNY; 7:07 PM, ESPN). Finish strong.
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