The New York Mets held on to beat the Kansas City Royals in the final game of the two-game series that gave The Amazin’s their first win this season and a split with the World Series champs. Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard had a very strong performance, with nine strikeouts in six innings in a 2-0 win over the Royals on Tuesday. That gave the right-hander 175 strikeouts in his first 25 career games. After the game, Mets coach Terry Collins commented on Syndergaard and his confidence to throw a pitch when he needs to make it. He certainly did that tonight.
The only two Mets runs that were scored came at the top of the fourth inning, thanks to the bat of second baseman Neil Walker, who crushed his first homerun with the team about 10 rows back in right field against former Mets pitcher Chris Young.
Syndergaard started the game by giving up a leadoff triple, but came back to strike out the side. After receiving their World Series rings before the game (and giving props to the New York Mets as the National League champs, which was seriously classy) the Royals struggled and their bats were shut down by the only pitcher to beat Kansas City in the World Series last year. The Royals finished the long night with only 3 hits and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
The Royals did have a few defensive highlights, especially when Lorenzo Cain robbed Michael Confronto of extra bases with a spectacular grab.
Speaking of defense, the Mets still showed some cracks in their foundation, especially with (say it with me if you’ve heard this before) Yoenis Cespedes. After dropping a ball on opening night, another seemingly possibly grab went over the outfielders head. Granted it wasn’t marked an official error, but if we kept a running total of bonehead plays – and I just might do that this season – that definitely makes number one.
Lucas Duda also bobbled a throw to first as he couldn’t quite figure out which way to turn his glove and his last minute decision cost the Mets the out. Fortunately, it didn’t cost them the game. According to the broadcasters, the odd start time of the game, 3:15 Central time, affected the players as sun cast shadows that were a distraction. Excuses, excuses.
Mets Captain David Wright saw his first hit of the season tonight as a single dropped into right field, but (again tell me if you’ve heard this before) Curtis (Mr. Magoo) Granderson struggled with any contact at all, striking out not once, not twice, but three times in four at bats.
Jeurys Familia, started the 2016 season by throwing his first save for the Mets. They head back to Citifield to play the Philadelphia Phillies this coming weekend. These three games, plus the three-game series on April 18, 19 and 20 will be the only time these two rivals meet this season so grab your tickets now because that’s it folks.
The probables for Friday include Phillies pitcher Jerad Eickhoff who held a 3-3 record last season with a 2.65 ERA with 13 walks and 49 SO. His opponent average is .212.
The Mets hard throwing righty Jacob deGrom is set to start in Friday’s afternoon game (a 1:10 start time), but his wife is currently expecting their first child and deGrom may be called in for new daddy duty. Collins has said they might start LHP Steven Matz or RHPs Matt Harvey or Bartolo Colon in his place.
I’ll be recapping the Mets games this season here at Get More Sports. I’m excited about this opportunity and have been a New York Mets fan since I was a teenager. I fondly remember watching the 1986 World Series final out sitting around a portable television in New York City’s Grand Central Station, while on my way home from my college classes. I can still here the echo from the screams in the station from all of the fans who were there.
Speaking of the 1986 New York Mets, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Erik Sherman, the author of Kings of Queens: Life Beyond Baseball With the ’86 Mets, with Ej the Rainmaker. The book is available wherever books are sold.
Prior to Kings of Queens, Erik was co-author of New York Mets’ great Mookie Wilson’s autobiography, MOOKIE: Life, Baseball, and the ’86 Mets. Check out the interview here.
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