The starter goes six, gets six strikeouts and yields just one run. The offense awakens with a monstrous roar and ties the most runs scored at the home park through scoring 10 runs in an inning for the fourth time in franchise history.
So let’s talk about the Mets’ defense.
“That’s what you’ve got to do to win games,” manager Terry Collins said after the Mets’ 14-1 blowout win over the Brewers on Saturday night at Citi Field. “You’ve got to make plays. We talk about the little things.”
Well, at the time, it wasn’t so little. It was early and the Mets had a 1-0 lead with the Brewers batting in the top of the third. With a man on first, Milwaukee’s Carlos Gomez scorched a shot that had double in the corner written all over it. But third baseman Eric Campbell, recently recalled, made a terrific stab. It was a hit, but Campbell probably saved a run.
And there was no probably on the next play as Lucas Duda lunged and snared Gerardo Parra’s liner and turned it into a double play, doubling Luis Sardinas off second.
“It was important,” Duda said, praising teammates. “Soup stopped that double down the line and actually Wilmer [Flores] made a great pick [of my throw] at second.I’m not sure if everybody saw that, but he picked me up right there.”
Noah Syndergaard is scheduled for his first home start Sunday. Following his losing major league debut against the Cubs at Wrigley Field Tuesday, Syndergaard admitted he is looking forward to the excitement of a home start.
Anthony Recker could be called on to catch him because it’s a day game after a night game. Kevin Plawecki caught the righty in the minors and at Wrigley, but he also started Saturday night and has been battling a sinus/congestion bug.
If Recker starts, he said he will be mindful of Syndergaard’s approach.
“My job is not necessarily to make sure he isn’t too amped up, it’s just to make sure that if he is amped up, his focus stays where it’s supposed to be,” Recker said. “Just little reminders here and there, things you can say, ways to get him not necessarily thinking about the first home start but what he needs to do, whether it’s keeping the ball down, getting it in on this guy, whatever it may be.”
On a rehab assignment for Single-A St. Lucie, Dillon Gee worked four innings, gave up one earned run, six hits and no walks while striking out seven against Charlotte Saturday. Gee is on the disabled list with a right groin strain. In the same game, Bobby Parnell pitched one inning (one run , one hit, two walks) and Vic Black also threw one inning (one run, two hits, one walk).
If everything breaks correctly, then David Wright could be back on the field doing baseball activities for the Mets on Monday. Don’t get too pumped just yet. That’s not saying he’s playing, just that he is taking another step toward returning.
“We’re hoping Monday he’s on the field doing baseball activity stuff. The back’s getting better,” Collins said. “He’s going through some therapy the back doctor has recommended before he starts his baseball stuff.
“There are stages he has to get through and he’s up to the last one. … Hopefully that gets done [Saturday], and he takes [Sunday] off and is back on the field doing baseball stuff on Monday.”
Wright went on the DL with a hamstring strain on April 15. While rehabbing that injury, he developed some back issues which hampered his progress. There is no timetable for a return.
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, one of the Mets’ top position prospects, is headed to New York for an examination on his left knee Monday. Nimmo hit first base awkwardly Friday, left Double-A Binghamton’s game and was placed on the DL.
Nimmo, hitting .297 before the injury, was the 13th overall pick in the 2011 draft, general manager Sandy Alderson’s first with the Mets.
Jacob deGrom, according to Elias Sports Bureau, became only the second Mets pitcher ever with two hits in an inning: Chris Young did it on April 5, 2011 in the third inning against Philadelphia. … The Mets’ 14 runs tied their most ever at Citi Field. … DeGrom’s three hits tied the Mets’ record for most by a pitcher. … Daniel Murphy had his 200th career double.