Forget It Mets, It's Chi Town

Happy Free Monday fellow Met fans. We’re nearing the home stretch of the season, so there’s no better time to get a paid sub!

In a pitchers’ duel, the White Sox walked off the Mets 2-1 on a Tristan Peters home run off of Kodai Senga. 

Facing lefty opener Sean Newcomb, Francisco Lindor led off the game with a ringing double to left. He was promptly stranded there, as Bo Bichette hit it back to the pitcher while Carson Benge and Luis Robert Jr. both swung and missed at slurves.

Newcomb’s last batter was AJ Ewing at the start of the third. Ewing barely beat Munetaka Murakami to first for an infield single. Old foe Erick Fedde came in to pitch and got a double play to erase Ewing. Lindor singled, then Bichette flew out to center to end that half inning.

Nolan McLean was cruising until there were two outs in the third and the opposing lineup turned over. Sam Antonacci recorded the first Chicago (AL) hit of the day before Murakami drew a walk. Miguel Vargas also worked a walk to load the bases. McLean promptly struck out Andrew Benintendi looking at a sinker to escape unscathed. 

Fedde and McLean traded zeroes through the sixth. Cowboy Ohtani ultimately allowed just one hit in six shutout frames. He walked four and hit a batter (of course) but he struck out six. 

The Mets threatened in the top of the seventh off of Fedde. Benge hit a ground rule double to left and Robert walked. The lefty Hagen Smith came in and looked like the greatest pitcher who ever lived. He struck out Jared Young on a slider. He caught Francisco Alvarez looking. Marcus Semien had similar luck, swinging and missing at a 2-2 slider. Pure filth. 

Dedniel Nuñez was tested by Andy Green to pitch for a second day in a row for the first time since his Tommy John surgery. He aced the exam, working around a single by Tistian Peters to retire the White Sox in the bottom of the frame.

After Smith retired the Mets 1-2-3 in the eighth (no strikeouts though - a small victory), the usually nails Daniel Duarte took over for the Mets. After striking out Murakami, Vargas hit a single to left center. Benintendi, who all series long seemingly always came up with the bases loaded and always made an out, doubled to right. Benge made a strong throw home but Vargas scored anyway. Duarte fanned the next two batters he faced, which would prove to be important.

The White Sox somewhat curiously took Smith out and replaced him with their sorta closer Grant Taylor. Bichette grounded out on the first pitch in the top of the ninth, but Benge blooped a single, and Robert drew a base on balls again. Young took a 3-1 pitch up the middle to plate Benge and knot the game at one. Unfortunately, the struggling Alvy came up next, and he predictably struck out trying to hit the ball to Neptune. Semien walked to load the bases for the struggling Ewing, who, and it hurts me to say this, predictably struck out when he got beat on a high fastball. 

Like Nuñez, Kodai Senga came in to pitch even though he had never pitched on back-to-back days as a closer. Chase Meidroth grounded out, but Senga fell behind 3-0 on Tristan Peters. He got strike one, then threw a fastball in the zone. Peters connected. He hit the ball juuuuuust far enough past Ewing’s glove in center to win the game. 

This one stung. The Mets are now 59-72 instead of 60-71, which admittedly just looks a lot better because of the round number of a win total. A better draft pick awaits, at least.

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I didn’t hate Andy Green’s decision to bring in Senga instead of, say, a rested Nate Lavender in the ninth. If Senga is going to be a closer or any high-leverage reliever, you have to know if he can pitch consecutive days in a row. 

Green did make a curious decision though. Christopher Morel came up to bat in the fourth inning with two outs. His at-bat was interrupted when Jared Young was caught stealing second (what?). When the fifth inning came around, Green swapped out Morel for Brett Baty.

McLean wore a belt with Luis Torrens’ head all over it and cleats honoring his dog Waffles for Players Weekend. 

Mark Vientos was interviewed up in Binghamton where he’s rehabbing his fractured hand. He remains to at least say out loud that he’s a confident guy.

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets shut out the Worcester Red Sox for the second day in a row, this time winning 2-0. RHP Xzavion Curry allowed just two hits in four and two thirds innings. RHP Jack Weisenburger threw three perfect frames with a strikeout. CF Nick Morabito went 2 for 4 with his 41st stolen base of the year. All of the scoring came on a two-run homer off the bat of LF D’Andre Smith. 

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies won for the 17th time in their last 19 games, a 7-3 victory over the Altoona Curve (Pirates affiliate). SS Jefferson Rojas hit a home run and made two great defensive plays. LF Corey Collins went 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs scored, three RBI, and a walk. 1B Mark Vientos went 0 for 3. RHP Justin Hagenman allowed one earned run on four hits in three innings, walking none and fanning two. RHP Gabe Davis got the dub. He permitted zero earned runs on one hit in four innings of work. Davis walked two and punched out seven. 

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones went to town on the Asheville Tourists (Astros) for the second day in a row. They won 12-1 yesterday. LHP Daviel Hurtado gave up no earned runs on four hits in five and two thirds innings. He walked two and struck out five. DH Sammy Stafura went 3 for 6. LF Yonatan Henriquez went 2 for 5 with a dinger, two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. 1B Eddinson Paulino hit a grand slam. C Chase Meggers went 2 for 3 with a double, three runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. 

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets got creamed by the Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers) 12-2. SS Jake Ogden went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. LF Wyatt Vincent went 2 for 3 with a double, a run scored, an RBI, and a walk. 

On this day in 2015, the Mets set a franchise record with eight home runs in a game against the Phillies. David Wright, Juan Lagares, Wilmer Flores, Travis d’Arnaud, Michael Cuddyer, Daniel Murphy, and Yoenis Céspedes all go deep in the 16-7 victory. It was Wright’s first game back since April 14th due to spinal stenosis.

Today is yet another day off for the Mets! And no minor league games either. Life is pain.