Crazy Eighth

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Griffin Canning put together his greatest start as a Met so far and the Mets were homer happy again to take the series from the Cubs, winning yesterday 6-2. 

It was a back-and-forth game for the first seven innings. In the bottom of the second, after Starling Marte was hit by a pitch (again), Luis Torrens tripled to left center on a ball that Pete Crow-Armstrong juuuuust missed. Marte scored to make it 1-0 Mets. Little did Torrens know that his day would turn ugly later, when he got hit in a plate where you do not want to get hit if you have a peepee. He had to leave the game and was replaced by Francisco Alvarez, who ended up going 2 for 2. 

Canning was terrific. He struck out the side in the first. He faced the minimum in the second, fourth, and fifth innings. Going into the top of the sixth, he had only allowed one hit, and it was of the infield variety. But with one out, Crow-Armstrong tied the game all by himself with a solo shot to right. Suddenly, the PCA haunting the Mets narrative was a very real possibility. 

The Mets answered in the bottom half of the inning. After Juan Soto and Pete Alonso both struck out, and it was looking like Matthew Boyd had a shot at going eight innings just allowing a fluke run, Mark Vientos homered to left to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. Vientos is heating up in May, and the fact that there’s a friendly competition going between himself and Brett Baty might be the reason. And we all benefit from it. 

But the Cubs tied it again in the top of the seventh. Reed Garrett, possibly too used to having to clean someone else’s mess, walked Michael Busch to start. One batter later, Nico Hoerner doubled him home. 

Francisco Lindor led off the bottom of the eighth against Porter Hodge. The night before, Hodge got Lindor to ground into a double play in the ninth, surprising everybody. This time however, he took him deep to right center. Revenge! And the Mets were kind enough to add plenty of insurance to protect from a possible Edwin Díaz Experience. Alonso, who had struck out in his previous three at-bats, ripped a double to left. Vientos followed with an RBI single to center. Gavin Hollowell came in to pitch for the Cubs. Brandon Nimmo was cool with that - he homered to right center to make it 6-2 New York. Sugar got three ground ball outs in the ninth to close the books. 

This is a good series win, against a fellow division leader. I guess the Mets can beat good teams after all. 

After hearing it a few times I'm pretty sure the CIti Field organist plays the Severance theme. One can only guess that Ray Castoldi has complex feelings about his job.

When asked about Torrens’ condition, Carlos Mendoza smiled and said he’s much better now. Man, that ain’t funny. 

Vientos, on his home run: “That’s mommy power.”

Gary Cohen and Joe Girardi made a surprisingly good duo in the Roku booth. Girardi sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. I can see (hear) why he got multiple managerial jobs. 

As predicted here, the Bronx Giraffe has yet to win the 5 Boroughs race.

On TikTok, you can take the field with Juan Soto.

Bob Nightengale reported that the Mets have checked in with the White Sox regarding center fielder Luis Robert Jr., and Chicago is “eyeing” Blade Tidwell. Jon Heyman threw cold water on that rumor, saying there’s nothing going on at the moment regarding them.

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins affiliate) took care of the Triple-A Syracuse Mets 5-2. Luis De Los Santos went yard. Paul Blackburn (knee) pitched three innings in his latest rehab start. He gave up three earned runs, but what matters is he threw 60 pitches without shattering into one million pieces.

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies did not throw another perfect game, sadly. They lost to the Reading Fightin Phils 3-2. Ryan Clifford went 2 for 4 with yet another home run. Joander Suarez was charged with the loss. He went five and one thirds innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs. He walked two and struck out seven. 

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones lost to the Asheville Tourists (Astros) 12-6, despite home runs from Eli Serrano III, Jacob Reimer, and Chris Suero. Joel Díaz started. He allowed six earned runs in two innings of work. 

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets fell to the Clearwater Thrashers (Phillies) 7-3. Nick Roselli was 2 for 4 with a home run. Trey Snyder got on base all four times he came to the plate. Matt Allan gave up three earned runs in his lone inning of work. Raimon Gomez struck out four in one and a third innings. He reached 102.7 mph on his heater.

Yogi Berra would have been 100 years old today. I would have loved to hear what he would have said about that.

Noah Syndergaard made his MLB debut at Wrigley Field 10 years ago tonight. Yes, that was 10 years ago.

The Pirates come to town to face the Mets. All-Everything Paul Skenes (3-4, 2.77 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh. David Peterson (2-2, 3.05 ERA) will toe the rubber for New York.