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 "Honestly, when I was warming up, I wasn't throwing the ball where I
wanted at all," he said. "I said, 'Oh no, I better get it under
control when I get out on the mound.'"
Whatever happened during his walk from the bullpen was the right
tonic for the Mets.
DeGrom pitched eight scoreless innings as New York breezed past the
Padres, 7-0.
DeGrom (6-4) gave up two hits and no walks while striking out eight.
He allowed a single to shortstop Clint Barmes in the sixth inning, a
clean ground ball hit to right field, and a hit by third baseman
Will Middlebrooks that went off shortstop Wilmer Flores' glove in
the eighth.
"This probably was one of the best games I've seen him pitch," Mets
manager Terry Collins said. "His command tonight, changing speeds,
he was really good."
So was the Mets' offense, led by second baseman Daniel Murphy's home
run, one of his four hits that were good for three RBIs. Third
baseman Ruben Tejada collected a season-high three hits.
However, the star was deGrom, whose 105-pitch outing helped the Mets
snap their seven-game road losing streak. Sean Gilmartin pitched a
perfect ninth to give deGrom his first road win in four decisions
this season.
DeGrom tried to ignore the fact that he took a no-hitter into the
sixth inning.
"I knew what was going on but I tried not to think about it," he
said.
Think about this: It was the three-year anniversary of Johan Santana
throwing the only no-hitter in Mets history. Collins left Santana
for 134 in that game. The left-hander landed on the disabled list
later that season, and he hasn't pitched in the majors since.
"I was just thinking to myself this could be a night to sit back and
watch what happens; he pitched a great game," Collins said of
deGrom.
Meanwhile, Padres starter Andrew Cashner (2-8) lasted just 4 2/3
innings, charged with six runs (five earned) on a career-high 11
hits. He also struck out a career-high 12 batters without issuing a
walk.
"It was a weird one," Cashner said. "I thought I had some of my best
stuff I've had this season. Some balls just fell in. Really, the
main mistake was just the home run, I hung a slider."
Padres manager Bud Black saw the bad and good.
"Cash was on in spurts," he said. "We saw Cash make some pitches,
but Tejada and Murphy really killed him. Those guys put a hurting to
us."
Still, it was deGrom, and his fastball in the mid to high 90s, that
kept the Padres baffled. DeGrom also made two fine defensive plays
to keep San Diego off the bases as he faced just one batter over the
minimum.
Black and right fielder Matt Kemp were ejected for arguing with
plate umpire Dan Iassogna in the eighth inning.
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No one could question how dominating deGrom was as he retired the
first 15 batters.
"After the second or third inning, I knew I could make pitches and
was able to make them on both sides of the plate," he said.
It was deGrom's second consecutive strong outing, although he got a
no-decision in his last start. He worked seven scoreless innings
against the Philadelphia Phillies before being touched for two runs
in the eighth inning.
Murphy hit his fourth homer of the season in the fifth inning, a
two-run blast after Tejada singled. That pushed the Mets' lead to
4-0. Murphy and Tejada each had three hits in their first three
at-bats.
"Murph and a lot of guys got some big hits," Collins said.
It was soon 5-0 as left fielder Darrell Ceciliani notched his first
major league RBI, and then 6-0 when center fielder Juan Lagares'
single scored Ceciliani to chase Cashner.
The Mets struck in the first inning on a one-out double by Tejada
and a single by Murphy, with Murphy's hit driving in Tejada. Murphy
came around to score when Middlebrooks threw wildly to first on
Ceciliani's ground ball for a run-scoring error.
The biggest mistake, though, belonged to deGrom. How else to explain
him thinking he was off-kilter and then flirting with a shutout.
"This has been the best I've been at repeating my delivery," he
said. "I was staying on top of the ball and getting good ball
movement."
NOTES: Mets 1B Lucas Duda did not play Monday after getting hit by a
pitch on his right knee Sunday. The team doesn't expect Duda to miss
extended time. ... Injured New York 3B David Wright was meeting with
back doctors in Los Angeles, and the team could have an update
Tuesday. ... Mets manager Terry Collins said there is no timetable
for C Travis D'Arnaud's return from a wrist injury. ... Padres CF
Wil Myers (wrist) did some sliding drills and could take batting
practice Wednesday. ... San Diego 1B Yonder Alonso (shoulder) is
scheduled to rejoin the Padres on Tuesday. ... San Diego RHP Brandon
Morrow (shoulder) will make the first of two rehab starts Tuesday
for Double-A San Antonio.
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reserved.]
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