It was a back and forth night in Queens, but the Mets emerged on top, taking game one of this series with the Milwaukee Brewers, winning 3-2 in extras. After losing two of three in walkoff fashion to the White Sox, the Mets held on to win a game late and continued their post-deadline hot streak.
The Mets got yet another quality start of our their young pitching tonight, with Zac Thornton continuing his improbable run of success. Over six runs, Thornton didn’t walk a batter, allowed seven hits, induced
two ground ball double plays, and struck out four. He worked himself out of trouble, he limited damage, and he continues to look like he absolutely belongs in the big leagues after being nowhere near anyone’s radar at season’s start.
His most impressive inning might’ve been the third, which started out with two straight base hits to the left side of the infield. A comebacker to the mound resulted in the first out coming at third base. A fly ball and a groundout got Thornton out of the inning and was another’s illustration of how he’s able to buckle down and not let game circumstances get the best of him.
The only blemish against him came in the fourth inning, when William Contreras led off the inning with a double and was driven in by a two-out single by Luis Lara.
The Mets got their offense off the long ball, with both Francisco Lindor and Luis Robert Jr. depositing balls over the left-field wall. Lindor’s dinger was the only run scored against starter Kyle Harrison, who is having a spectacular year, and looked quite good in his five innings of work as well. He struck out five, walked one, and gave up six hits. His slurve was especially effective early on and he, like Thornton, looked in control with just about every pitch he threw.
Robert’s home run came off of Chad Patrick, who was the first out of the bullpen for the Brewers. Robert let go of the bat with one hand and looked like he was swinging at maybe 50% intensity, and the ball still traveled over the Great Wall of Flushing. Antonio Senzatela was up next, and was good in his inning and a third of work. Aaron Ashby didn’t allow a baserunner in his one-inning of work.
On the Mets’ side, Nate Lavender relieved Thornton, and he was great in his two innings of work, not allowing a baserunner and keeping batters off-balance. Tonight’s six batters faced was officially the longest outing of Lavender’s career thus far.
Austin Warren got the save opportunity tonight for the Mets, and William Contreras greeted him rudely by doubling on the third pitch of the at-bat. Pinch hitter Jake Bauers was up next, and he drew a four-pitch walk. Christian Yelich pinch hit next, and lined a ball the other way to drive in Contreras with the tying run. After getting Lara to strike out for the first out, that was it for Warren.
Friday night’s goat Jefry Yan was brought in to try to close out the inning with the game tied to face lefty Garrett Mitchell, and he got the strikeout on a challenged call. Joey Ortiz then walked to load the bases, bringing up David Hamilton as the batter to either end the half-frame or drive in the winning run. Hamilton laced a ball to the left side, but a stretched-out Lindor snagged the ball out of the air to keep the game tied.
[Side note: it appears that the MLB.tv feed went out as the ball was in the air, sending a gasp across the tri-state area]
Trevor Megill, brother of the felled Tylor, pitched the ninth for the Milwaukee. After quickly dispatching Luis Torrens and A.J. Ewing, the hero of the last half inning—Lindor—came up, and hit a perfectly placed single down the third base line for an infield single. However, he was caught leaning off of first base, and was picked off to end the inning.
Jonathan Pintaro started the tenth, and struck out Jackson Chourio to start things off. Bruce Turang was next, same result, a swinging strikeout. Contreras was up next, and he worked the count full before taking his base. However, Pintaro got Bauers to fly out to end the frame without a run scoring.
Bo Bichette led off the bottom of the tenth against Megill with a fly ball to center. That would bring up Carson Benge, who already had three hits, and was intentionally walked to put two on for Robert. Robert showcased an eye at the plate that isn’t always there and drew a walk to load the bases.
Christopher Morel strode to the plate, just a few innings after Gary Cohen mentioned how positive of a clubhouse presence he is, and grounded into what looked to be a sure out to third base, However, David Hamilton made an errant to throw to home, allowing Lindor to score and the Mets to take game one of the series.
Robert Stock takes the ball tomorrow for the Mets, and will face Dustin May for the middle game of this series.
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What’s WPA?
Big Mets winner: Jefry Yan, +35.0% WPA
Big Mets loser: Austin Warren, -56.0% WPA
Mets pitchers: +49.0% WPA
Mets hitters: +1.0% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Luis Robert Jr.’s go-ahead home run, +17.5% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Christian Yelich’s game-tying double, -38.6% WPA
