David Peterson Masterclass

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David Peterson threw a complete game shutout and Brandon Nimmo hit two home runs as the Mets defeated the Nationals 5-0. 

The Mets struck first in the bottom of the first inning against their old nemesis Jake Irvin. Nimmo drew a seven pitch walk with one out. After Juan Soto struck out on a sinker, Pete Alonso doubled to center, scoring Nimmo to make it 1-0 New York. 

The Mets added on in the bottom of the third. Francisco Lindor hit a one-out double to right. After Nimmo was more or less robbed by right fielder Alex Call, Juan Soto hit it over Call’s head for a two-run homer. It was the fourth consecutive home game in which Soto has gone yard. That ties a Met record. 

A Nimmo dinger to left center to lead off the fifth and another Nimmo smash to lead off the 7th against Jackson Rutledge gave the Mets two additional runs that would turn out to prove superfluous. 

Peterson threw the first complete game by a Met starter this season. It was the first time in his career he had pitched in the ninth as a starter. He allowed six hits, walked none, and struck out six. He retired the first seven Nationals batters before Luis García Jr., who is supposedly terrible against lefties, hit a hard single to center. He was immediately erased by a Jacob Young 6-4-3 double play to end the third. 

With two out in the fourth, James Wood singled off of DP, but then he struck out ANdrés Chaparro with a change-up. After 1-2-3 fifth and sixth frames, the seventh inning began a little shaky. Both old chum Amed Rosario and Wood got base hits. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Peterson beared down: he struck out Chaparro and Nathaniel Lowe both on sliders, then coaxed Alex Call to ground out to first baseman Pete Alonso to end the threat. 

Peterson and the Mets got a little lucky in the top half of the eighth. After striking out Riley Adams on a curve, García Jr. came six inches from homering to right center, instead settling for a double. Jacob Young then singled to center. Tyrone Taylor, who had just came in to play center, threw a 91 mph strike to catcher Luis Torrens to nab García Jr. at home plate. Maybe. The call on the field was out. Had it been “safe”, the replay folks probably would have let that stand. As it was, they couldn’t find any evidence to the contrary that Torrens grazed García Jr.’s hand right before he touched home plate. 

Peterson then got CJ Abrams to fly out to right to end the inning. In the dugout, Peterson told Carlos Mendoza he wanted the ninth, and the manager obliged. Peterson needed a 1-2-3 ninth for the shutout, and he got it. Rosario lined out to third, Wood struck out on a fastball, and Chaparro grounded out to third. Game over. What a performance. That ruled. 

The Mets are now 20 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2022 season. Wouldn’t It Be Nice if they won 101 again?

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Francisco Alvarez and his partner Nahomi now have a baby daughter in their lives. Congrats to those two. 

During Alvy’s absence, Luis Torrens went 0 for 8 with three strikeouts. To be fair, he also caught a complete game shutout.

Jason Vargas did WHAT?!

During the postgame show, Todd Zeile said Buck Showalter was “terrible” at giving Peterson confidence and letting him get out of jams without help from the bullpen. In his postgame presser, Peterson said Carlos Mendoza is a “great manager to play for.”

In an anonymous player poll, some folks said Francisco Lindor is the most enjoyable player to watch. When anonymous players were asked who they would least like to face in Game 7 of the World Series, they said Juan Soto.

Frankie Montas (lat strain) will have another rehab start Friday for Triple-A Syracuse. Carlos Mendoza was asked if him and the front office is worried about how poorly his rehab starts have gone so far. He said no, the logic being Montas is still in spring training and he’s facing hitters that are in the middle of their seasons pretty much. True, but those hitters are minor leaguers…Sean Manaea (right oblique) will pitch Sunday for a farm team to be named later.

The Bronx Giraffe has still not won the 5 Borough Mascot Race.

Ew the Mets used AI to make an admittedly very cute animation to Dakota Johnson bullshitting about baseball on Late NIght with Seth Meyers last week.

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets fell to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees affiliate) 7-5. Drew Gilbert and David Villar went yard for ‘Cuse. Dom Hamel got the start. He only lasted one and two thirds innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits. He walked nobody and struck out three.

The Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) defeated the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies 5-2. Jet!(t) Williams’ two home runs accounted for all of Binghamton’s runs. Zach Thornton got the loss. He allowed three earned runs in five and one third innings. He walked two and fanned six.

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones improved to 41-18 when they beat the Asheville Tourists (Astros) 4-2. Jacob Reimer went 2 for 4 with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI. Noah Hall was meh. In four and one third innings, he allowed two earned runs, seven hits, and two walks while striking out five. 

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets won a crazy one out in Daytona, beating the Tortugas 16-10. Simon Juan homered and Trace Willhoite went 4 for 5 with four RBI. Trey Snyder went 3 for 5 with a triple, a run scored, an RBI, and a walk. 

This afternoon the Mets look to sweep the Nationals. Michael Soroka (3-3, 4.86 ERA) will give it a go for Washington. Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.59 ERA) will be on the mound for the New York (NL). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 pm eastern. The game will air on SNY.