Luis Robert Jr. and his powerful bat got revenge against his former team in the Mets’ 10-5 win over the White Sox to even the series.
The offense, with the help of Robert, jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the third inning and chased Chicago starter Luis Castillo from the game after getting his pitch count up. Great at bats by Bo Bichette, Carson Benge, and Robert led to an early exit in the third inning for Castillo. Bichette hit a solo home run with one out that inning and then Robert blasted a two-run
shot after an ABS challenge overturned a strikeout call against him. Castillo never recovered and departed two batters later having thrown 80 pitched in 2.2 innings pitched.
With the offense clicking unfortunately Christian Scott could not hold his end of the bargain. The White Sox fought their way back in the bottom of the third after Carson Benge ran into the wall attempting to make a catch that forced the ball over the wall for a home run. Scott would go on to give up another run that inning to make it a one-run game.
In the fifth, Benge reclaimed the home run he forced over the wall with his glove by blasting one with his bat to lead off the inning. Eric Wagaman and Marcus Semien also added RBI singles and the Mets held a more comfortable 7-3 lead when the inning was over.
Once again Scott could not keep Chicago off the board and was pulled when he walked in a run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth. It was not a great outing for the young righty who couldn’t complete five innings on a night the offense provided plenty of run support. With both starters out of the game early this one came down to a battle of the bullpens. Jonathan Pintaro was the first man up out of the Mets bullpen, and while he was able to complete the fifth after entering for Scott without further damage, he did give up a run an inning later which allowed the White Sox to inch closer yet again. However, when Chicago turned to old friend Huascar Brazobán, Robert struck again with another home run to make it 8-5.
Throughout the game manager Andy Green seemeed to pull all the right strings. First he pinch hit Eric Wagaman for Brett Baty and Wagaman came through with an RBI single. Then in the ninth, with a runner on, he pinch hit Luis Torrens for Wagaman and Torrens continued his recent power streak with a two-run home run to give new closer Kodai Senga a five-run lead to work with.
Senga allowed the first two runners to reach base but he retired the next three batters in order to finish off the victory.
It was a good bounce back win for the team who suffered a heartbreaking loss in the series opener against the first place Sox. This team continues to play well against tough competition since the trade deadline and perhaps some positives will be found in an otherwise dismal season.
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What’s WPA?
Big Mets winner: Carson Benge and Austin Warren, +23% WPA
Big Mets loser: Christian Scott, -19% WPA
Mets pitchers: -1% WPA
Mets hitters: +51% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Luis Robert Jr. home run in third, +17.7% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Braden Montgomery home run in second, -11.2% WPA
