Mets’ Carlos Carrasco’s tweaked slider leads to season-high strikeout tally

Carlos Carrasco knew from the start he was in for a good game.

After five innings and with the Mets holding a 3-2 lead, Friday night’s starting pitcher checked out of the ballgame after he had recorded a season-high six strikeouts while only giving up five hits and two runs in what would become a 5-4 loss to the Giants.

The game also marked Carrasco’s first time recording more than five strikeouts since last Sept. 15, and he said he knew he had it going throughout the night.

“Every pitch was working, except one: the homer [to ex-Met Wilmer Flores]. That’s the only one I missed. Supposed to throw that pitch up,” Carrasco said afterward. “Physically, everything feels good, every pitch. The new slider that I got was working really good.”

The slider that the 14-year-veteran had at his disposal on Friday night wasn’t the typical technique that he uses. Instead, he decided to make a slight tweak to the pitch prior to the game.

“I think it was the grip,” he said. “Different grip, and it feels way better and just trust the pitch more. It was really good tonight.”

And trust, Carrasco did. The right-hander threw that new and improved slider 28 times, with an average velocity of nearly 83 mph. He used the pitch to strike out three batters.

Mets manager Buck Showalter was impressed with Carrasco’s pitching.

“I was happy for Carlos. He had a competitive outing for us tonight,” Showalter said. “I think he had crisp fastballs, slider was good, the shape of the slider was good, and the change[up] was a usable pitch. He had three pitches, and it’s a good lineup. Gives you a lot of different looks.

“Carlos kept us intact, and … [it] seems like he’s pitching a little more like he’s capable and we hope that continues.”

Carrasco’s strong pitching was a key reason why the Mets held the lead through seven innings.

But the righty knows exactly what he wants to improve upon.

“I think I need to continue working on [the slider] more,” he said.