Canning Heat

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Griffin Canning pitched a gem and Pete Alonso hit two big boy home runs as the Mets defeated the Dodgers 6-1.

The California boy deftly mixed his slider, four-seam, and change-up to full effect, throwing six shutout innings, allowing just three hits (all singles) and one walk while striking out seven. Cali Canning never had to pitch to a batter while runners were in scoring position. He bookended 1-2-3 innings. In the first he got Shohei Ohtani to fly out to center, struck out Mookie Betts on a slider, and coaxed Freddie Freeman to a deep but playable fly out. In the sixth, Betts flied to center again, Freeman struck out on a slider, and Teoscar Hernández lined out to the center fielder Jeff McNeil. 

Canning pitched with a 3-0 lead the entire time he was out there. Francisco Lindor led off by getting hit by a Tony Gonsolin pitch (the Mets lead the league in HBPs. Again.) Brandon Nimmo hit a hot shot to second that second baseman Kiké Hernández couldn’t handle, moving a limping Lindor to third. After Juan Soto recorded an RBI ground out to second, Big Meat Pete smacked a two-run shot to right center. Gonsolin only gave up two more hits after that. 

The Dodgers threatened in the bottom of the seventh against José Castillo. After Max Muncy grounded out, Andy Pages doubled to left. Castillo hit Michael Conforto with a pitch to put the tying run on base. But after a Jeremy Hefner mound visit, Castillo threw six strikes in a row, striking out Dalton Rushing and Kiké to end the inning. 

As Edwin Díaz warmed up to face the top of the Dodgers lineup, the Mets made sure he wasn’t needed. Ryan Loutos hit Nimmo with a pitch to start the top of the eighth, then walked Soto (Soto walked three times.) Then Pete Alonso hit a 447-foot bomb to left to put the game to bed. It was his 240th career homer. He’s only two away from tying David Wright for second all-time on the Mets home run list. 

The Mets clinched the season series win against the defending champs. That might come in handy with tie breaking scenarios and such.

The Mets got good news in the injury department: Mark Vientos’ hamstring injury is “low-grade”. He’ll be shut down while receiving treatment for 10-14 days before doing baseball things again. 

Sean Manaea (right oblique strain) will begin a rehab assignment tomorrow with the Brooklyn Cyclones. He’s scheduled to throw 35 pitches over two innings.

Meanwhile, Lindor got hit in the foot by a pitch to start last night’s game. He wasn’t 100 percent running the bases in the first inning. In the top of the ninth he uncharacteristically didn’t run out of the batters’ box on a ground ball. He’ll probably talk his way into the lineup this afternoon but it’s something to watch for.

Carlos Mendoza said they’re thinking about Luisangel Acuña in center field again as a way to get the kid more playing time. Speaking of Acuña, we got a look inside his locker.

Deesha Thosar at Fox Sports wrote about Juan Soto. ​​"I'm in a tough spot right now, swing-wise," Soto admitted to her last week. "I just can't find the holes. I try to hit the ball hard anywhere, and sometimes I try too hard, and then I just roll it over and stuff like that. I'm just trying to get back to where I was and hit those line drives. If they catch it, they catch it. Just get those line drives." He seems more himself: he even shuffled last night. And nodded! And smiled! Ol’ Sourpuss Soto! 

Laura Albanese of Newsday wrote about Met pitchers handling Shohei Ohtani (for the most part). “If you’re obsessing over any one hitter and putting them on a pedestal, then you’re shrinking yourself,” Ryne Stanek said.

There were four Mets found in Baseball America’s updated top 100 prospects list : Jet!(t) Williams (59), Nolan McLean (69), Jonah Tong (95), and Ronny Mauricio (98).

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets held on to beat the Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays affiliate) 7-6. Hayden Senger went 2 for 3 with a double, a run scored, and a walk. Blade Tidwell went six innings allowing three earned runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out three.

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies have won 11 in a row. They defeated the Somerset Patriots (Yankees) 4-3. Jonah Tong was outstanding once again. He threw five innings of no-hit baseball, walking three and striking out 11. His ERA is down to 2.02. 

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones were one-hit by the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals), losing 2-0. Jonathan Santucci threw five and one third scoreless innings, permitting five hits and no walks. He whiffed five batters.

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets and Dunedin Blue Jays game was postponed due to “unplayable field conditions.” They’ll play two today. 

Happy 29th birthday to Dedniel Nuñez!

24 years ago today, the Mets drafted David Wright, a third baseman from Hickory High School in Virginia. Wright was at Dodger Stadium yesterday. He had his kids meet Francisco Lindor. Captain stuff, you know how it is.

This afternoon the Mets and Dodgers finish their season series. David Peterson (4-2, 2.69 ERA) will get the start for New York (NL). Landon Knack (3-2, 4.58 ERA) will give it a go for Los Angeles (NL). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 pm eastern. The game will air on SNY and MLB Network outside of the tri-state area.