|
 On Sunday, the homestand ended with the Mets delivering a series
of haymakers that served as evidence their surprising revival may be
for real.
Right-hander Jacob deGrom allowed one run in seven innings in his
second strong start of the homestand and the Mets rode a 14-hit
attack to a 9-1 rout of the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.
The thorough win completed a three-game sweep of the Marlins and
provided an appropriate summation of a homestand in which the Mets
went 8-2, their best mark in a homestand since going 9-1 in a
10-game set in 2010.
"I was talking to the coaches the first day and I said 'if we go
7-3, that's going to be a tremendous homestand for us,'" Mets
manager Terry Collins said. "These guys just stepped it up. Got the
offense and the pitching going at the same time. And that's how you
put streaks together."
 Even without Niese -- who was placed on the disabled list July 6 --
Mets starters posted a 2.45 ERA in the 10-game homestand and pitched
into the seventh inning eight times in the final nine games.
"Jonathon Niese had been our best starter, so to lose him really
hurt, but you've really got to give credit to those guys," said Mets
third baseman David Wright, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two
runs scored Sunday.
"When one of those guys goes down, just like offensively, other guys
need to pick up the slack. And they've certainly done that."
The real revelation over the past 10 days, though, was a
once-moribund offense that racked up 55 runs in every fashion
possible. The Mets hit 10 homers in the homestand but benefited from
small ball both Saturday and Sunday.
The Mets scored via an infield out and a suicide squeeze in
Saturday's 5-4 win. On Sunday, the Mets had five doubles and nine
singles.
"You never want to be too one-dimensional," said right fielder
Curtis Granderson, who was 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, two runs
scored and a stolen base Sunday. "The fact we can do it a number of
different ways is a good thing."
DeGrom, who is hitting .280 in 25 at-bats, gave the Mets the lead
for good Sunday with an RBI-single in the fourth. Granderson
followed with an RBI-double before center fielder Juan Lagares and
Wright provided RBI-doubles in the fifth and sixth inning.
 In the eighth inning, the Mets scored four runs via four singles,
three walks and two stolen bases.
"We've got guys up and down our lineup that are threats to hit a
home run, but also know when they get in a position to score a guy
from third or get a guy over that they can do that as well," Wright
said.
Now the Mets, who appeared finished when they went 1-6 on a
seven-game road trip prior to the homestand, are entertaining
thoughts of making a playoff run once play resumes following the
All-Star break.
[to top of second column] |
New York (45-50), which moved into third place ahead of Miami
(44-50) on Sunday, is seven games behind NL East co-leaders Atlanta
and Washington.
"We're playing very, very good baseball," Wright said. "And we plan
on giving them a run for their money."
DeGrom, who threw seven shutout innings in an 8-3 win over Atlanta
on Tuesday, improved to 3-5 by allowing five hits and two walks
while striking out eight.
Center fielder Marcell Ozuna had an RBI infield-single in the fourth
inning for the Marlins, who have lost four in a row and five of six,
Miami scored just six runs on 17 hits in the three-game series,
during which only one player -- shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria --
recorded a multi-hit game.
"Not a good series at all," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.
Left-hander Brad Hand (0-2) took the loss after allowing three runs
on six hits and two walks while striking out one in four innings. He
left with a right shin contusion suffered when he was hit by catcher
Anthony Recker's fourth-inning groundout.
NOTES: RHP Bartolo Colon will start for the Mets on Friday in San
Diego against the Padres. He will be followed by RHP Dillon Gee and
RHP Zack Wheeler. Manager Terry Collins said the rest of the
rotation will be determined by the health of LHP Jonathon Niese
(left shoulder strain). Niese, who is eligible to come off the
15-day disabled list on July 20, threw in the bullpen prior to the
game. ... Marlins RHP Nathan Eovaldi will start for the Marlins on
Friday against the San Francisco Giants. ... Marlins RHP Bryan
Morris had not allowed an earned run in his first 21 1/3 innings
with the club -- a franchise record for a newcomer -- before giving
up a pinch-hit two-run homer to Mets OF Chris Young on Saturday.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
