The Mets and Cardinals had a wild, dinger-heavy finale to their three-game set at Citi Field, with the Mets out-slugging the Red Birds 5-4.
The two teams combined for five home runs in the first two innings: Alec Brunson had a solo home run in the first off of Christian Scott, which was quickly answered by a two-run homer by Bo Bichette and a solo shot by Jared Young in the bottom of the inning. In the second, Lars Nootbaar hit a homer with no one on to bring the Cardinals within one, and Jimmy Crooks
then hit a two-run shot to put St. Louis up by one. 4-3.
That would be the end of the offense for the Cardinals, and Scott settled in nicely. While he didn’t complete five innings, aside from the three home runs, Scott’s day was effective, if not efficient. Across four and two-thirds innings, Scott allowed seven hits, four earned runs, one walk, and six strikeouts on the day. This was the sepmd career start by Scott where he gave up four earned runs; he’s still not given up five in a major league start.
Scott’s Cardinals counterpart Hunter Dobbins went four and a third, striking out five without allowing a walk. Both starters recovered nicely from the early home runs.
The Mets came back from the early deficit in the fifth when Young singled to score Juan Soto off of Justin Bruihl. Two frames later, and Soto would add a solo home run of his own to the tally against JoJo Romero, and that was all the Mets would need.
The Mets’ bullpen was fantastic throughout, allowing no hits and just one walk over four and a third innings. The relief pitching wasn’t dominant, striking out just three over those innings, but they kept the Cardinals off-balance and off the base paths. A.J. Minter (one and a third), Brooks Raley (one), Luke Weaver (one), and Devin Williams (one) pitched to just one above the minimum. Weaver is now in a 17 consecutive scoreless innings streak, despite being seen mumbling to himself when he gave up a couple of deep fly ball outs.
The Mets likely used more relievers than they would’ve liked to today, but the team needed the win.
The Mets are now 8-8 in their last 16 games, but at various points in that span, they’ve looked totally lost or like they’re snapping out of this slump. With Francisco Alvarez back and Francisco Lindor on the way back, the Mets are being given their best chance to try to salvage their season.
Nolan McLean starts tomorrow when the Mets face the Braves for the first time this season. Atlanta has not announced a starter yet.
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Win Probability Added
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Big Mets winner: Juan Soto +26% WPA
Big Mets loser: -23% WPA
Mets pitchers: +24% WPA
Mets hitters: +26% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Juan Soto’s go-ahead home run, +24.6% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Jimmy Crooks’s home run, -15.3% WPA.
