The New York Mets continue their winning streak with a fifth consecutive victory, fueled by powerful hitting and pitching.
After such a slow month of May, the New York Mets have started to find ways to get back in the win column. They have now won five games in row. Part of the surge is due to their recent sweep of the San Diego Padres. Good things are finally coming back to New York after two disappointing months to start the season. As a result of their recent performance, the team now stands just a game and a half games back in the wild card standings.
Welcome Back Edwin Diaz
Friday night’s opener saw the Mets win a close game that could have gone either way. Instead, the Mets took the win without having to worry about the bullpen blowing another game. On the mound for the Mets was LHP Sean Manaea, who was struggling coming into the game. Surprisingly, he had a much better game than most of his starts this season. He threw a couple of shutout innings until the top of the fifth, where he gave up a solo home run to CF Jackson Merrill, which was the only scoring play for San Diego. Manaea struck out seven batters while pitching through five strong innings. Even better, he did well enough to earn his fourth win of the year.
As for the offense, there wasn’t much to see. New York did not start the scoring until the bottom of the third inning. Newly signed DH J.D Martinez would deliver the only runs, driving in two on a two-out RBI double. He was the difference maker. New York couldn’t tack on more runs after that third inning.
The bullpen took care of business the rest of the way. RHP Edwin Diaz, who just recently came off the IL, was lights out. Despite him giving up a leadoff single and stolen base, he was able to strikeout DH Manny Machado with a 100-mph fastball. He later got 3B Donovan Solano to groundout followed by a strikeout to 2B Jake Cronenworth that would end the game. It also marks Diaz’s first save since May 6.
JD Martinez Continues His Hot Hitting
Ever since the Mets had signed J.D Martinez, he has not had any problems handling the bright lights of New York. So far, he’s been the reliable player New York has been asking for since the signing took place. On Saturday afternoon, Martinez went deep twice to help the Mets keep their winning streak alive. Even better, he reached base five times while finishing the afternoon on a three-hit performance and driving three runs in. It was the 23rd multi-homer game of his career and the first of this season.
Martinez was not the only player to drive in runs for the team. OF Brandon Nimmo also drove in two runs that were both on hard hits.
Then there was the pitching. Going up for New York was LHP Jose Quintana. This year hasn’t been too kind for him as he has struggled to find consistencies. However, he did change the narrative this past Saturday. Quintana was able to hold the Padres’ bat cold for six solid innings. He struck out six batters. The only mistake he made was the solo home run he served up to Jackson Merrill in the top of the fifth inning.
The Mets bullpen got the job done and was able to help the team secure the series win.
Big Day for Polar Bear Pete
After yesterday’s big game for J.D Martinez, 1B Pete Alonso finally had his big day for him. Following a solo shot by SS Francisco Lindor in the first inning, Alonso hit a three-run homer, making it a four-run inning for New York. Alonso would drive in a pair of other runs in the bottom of the eight. In the eighth, he hit an RBI single bringing both CF Harrison Bader and Francisco Lindor in to score. Hopefully, this big hit day for Alonso is a good sign of what’s to come in the near future.
Then there’s the pitching. On the mound in the series finale for the Mets was RHP Tylor Megill. This afternoon, he pitched five solid innings. That was enough to earn himself a win. The Mets next open a series on the road Monday against the Texas Rangers.
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