The Mets beat the Padres 4-0 on Saturday night in San Diego, as ace Jacob deGrom allowed just three hits and struck out 11 batters in seven innings.
Here are the takeaways
– Billy McKinney hit a leadoff double to start the game for the Mets, but he was left stranded as Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso struck out, and Dom Smith lined out to end the top half of the first inning. DeGrom started off with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth to end the first.
– DeGrom allowed a leadoff double to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the second, but retired the next three straight to end the scoring chance. Padres starter Joe Musgrove struck out the side in the third, and then deGrom matched him with a 1-2-3 inning of his own.
– Cronenworth singled off deGrom in the fourth, and advanced to second on Tatis’ hard grounder to short that was mishandled by Lindor. Eric Hosmer singled on a sharp line drive to left field that a sliding Smith couldn’t handle, as the Padres got the bases loaded with one out. DeGrom struck out Will Myers, and then got Tucupita Marcado out swinging on a full-count slider to escape the jam.
– Jose Peraza delivered the Mets first lead of the series with a solo home run to left field, making it a 1-0 game in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Lindor crushed a hanging breaking ball to right field for a solo homer, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead and extending his hitting-streak to eight games.
– Kevin Pillar ended an 0-for-13 streak at the plate with a single off of Musgrove to start the sixth inning. Tomas Nido then singled to right as Pillar moved to third, ending Musgrove’s night after two earned runs on eight hits with 10 strikeouts over 99 pitches in 5.0 IP. Jonathan Villar came in to pinch-hit for Travis Blankenhorn, and singled off Tim Hill to center to score Pillar and make it a 3-0 game.
– DeGrom recorded his ninth strikeout of the night in the sixth and passed Sid Fernandez for fourth all-time in Mets strikeouts with 1,450. He now trails only Jerry Koosman (1,799), Dwight Gooden (1,875), and Tom Seaver (2,541).
The ace’s night ended after 7.0 IP and 85 pitches, allowing just three hits and one walk with 11 strikeouts. Through 58.0 IP this season, deGrom’s allowed just 25 hits, eight walks, and three home runs. He also has 93 strikeouts and a ridiculous 0.62 ERA — the lowest ever in MLB history after nine starts.
– Lindor doubled to leadoff the top of the ninth inning, and then Smith walked to give the Mets two runners on with one out. Pillar singled on a line drive to right field, as Lindor beat the throw home to make it a 4-0 game.
Highlights
What’s next?
The Mets and Padres will wrap up their four-game series on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. on SNY.
Marcus Stroman (4-4, 2.66 ERA) gets the start and will go up against Chris Paddack (2-4, 4.24 ERA) for San Diego.