Mets Game Recap: Amazins defeat Reds with 2 hits, and the arm of Thor

Back from their disappointing road trip, the Flushing Nine hosted fresh competition Friday night, as the Cincinnati Reds arrived in town for a weekend series.

Noah Syndergaard toed the rubber in this evening’s series opener, and was opposed by Cincy’s Johnny Cueto.

The eccentric Reds starter baffled New York hitters through his first 4.2 innings of work, limiting them to just one hit.  The lone hit he did surrender, however, was a 1st inning lead-off home run by Curtis Granderson.

Jun 26, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher

(34) pitches during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati manufactured the tying run in the 2nd.

That’s the way things stayed until the 5th, when Johnny Cueto sabotaged his own effort in the bottom of the frame.  After allowing a 2-out triple to Dilson Herrera, he walked 3 straight batters to push across the go-ahead run.

Meanwhile, Noah Syndergaard cruised through 8 innings of very efficient work, and Jeurys Familia closed out the 9th, preserving the Mets 2-1 margin of victory.

Mets Starting Lineup:

1) Curtis Granderson-RF; 2) Ruben Tejada-3B; 3) Lucas Duda-1B; 4) Michael Cuddyer-LF; 5) Wilmer Flores-SS; 6) Juan Lagares-CF; 7) Kevin Plawecki-C; 8) Noah Syndergaard-SP; 9) Dilson Herrera-2B.

Game Recap:

Noah Syndergaard fanned Brandon Phillips to start the game, and retired the Reds on 6 total pitches.

Leading off the bottom of the 1st, Curtis Granderson deposited Johnny Cueto‘s second offering of the game into the Pepsi Porch for an early 1-0 Mets lead.

Right fielder Jay Bruce and catcher Brayan Pena opened the top of the 2nd with singles.  Shortstop Eugenio Suarez bounced into a fielder’s choice, placing runners on the corners.  Left Fielder Chris Dominguez then tapped a weak grounder to short, with the only play being to first.  Bruce scored on the play, tying the game.

• Through 3 innings pitched, Noah Syndergaard allowed one earned run on 4 hits.  He walked none and fanned 2 batters.  He threw 36 pitches with 25 (69%) going for strikes.

After allowing Granderson’s home run, Cueto retired 9 straight batters, then hit Ruben Tejada with a pitch leading off the bottom of the 4th.  Shortly, with 1-out, Tejada was caught in a run down between third and home, on a ground ball hit to third.

• Tejeda (elbow) was replaced by Eric Campbell at third base in the top of the 5th.

With 2-outs in the 5th, Dilson Herrera finally connected on the Mets second hit of the game, tripling to right/center.  Granderson drew a walk putting runners on the corners, then stole second.  In his first at-bat of the game, Eric Campbell drew Cueto’s second straight walk, loading the bases for Lucas Duda.  Johnny Cueto then walked his third consecutive batter pushing the go-ahead run across the plate, Herrera scored.  Michael Cuddyer‘s fly to center ended the Mets threat.

• Through 6 inning pitched, Thor allowed one earned run on 4 hits, no walks, and fanned 4 batters.  He threw 64 pitches with 47 (73%) going for strikes.  He averaged 10.6 pitches per inning.

Noah Syndergaard completed a scoreless 7th at 78 pitches.

Manny Parra relieved Johnny Cueto in the bottom of the 7th, and retired the Mets in order.

• Johnny Cueto left the game on the losing side of a 2-1 game.  Both Mets runs were earned.  Cueto allowed just 2 hits, a triple and a home run.  He threw 112 entertaining pitches, walked 3, and fanned 6 batters.

Left fielder Chris Dominguez led off the top of the 8th with a clean single.  Dilson Herrera then mishandled a (potential double-play) grounder by pinch hitter Skip Schumaker, but still secured the out at first.  Billy Hamilton followed with a grounder to second, moving Dominguez to third base.  With 2-outs, Brandon Phillips popped out to Dilson Herrera, leaving the tying run stranded at third.

• Noah Syndergaard’s evening ended after 8 very efficient innings of work.  He allowed one earned run on just 5 hits, walked none, and fanned 5 batters.  He threw 89 pitches with 65 (73%) going for strikes.  He lowered his ERA from 4.03 to a 3.59 mark.

Jeurys Familia entered the game in relief of Syndergaard in the 9th, and retired the Reds in order.

With Friday night’s victory, the Mets climbed back to a game over (38-37) the .500 mark.

Scoring Summary:

• Bottom 1st inning – Curtis Granderson hit a lead-off home run.

• Top 2nd inning – Jay Bruce singled.  Brayan Pena singled.  Eugenio Suarez grounded into a fielder’s choice placing runners on 1st and 3rd.  Chris Dominguez bounced a weak tapper to short, Bruce scored on the play.

• Bottom 5th inning – Dilson Herrera hit a 2-out triple.  Granderson walked.  Eric Campbell walked.  Lucas Duda walked, Herrera scored.

Final Score:

• Reds 1; METS 2

Highlights:

• The Mets announced southpaw Steven Matz will start Sunday’s series finale against the Reds.  He will be opposed by the Reds’ Josh Smith.

• With 8 complete innings, Noah Syndergaard cruised to the longest outing of his brief MLB career.  He previously pitched 7.1 innings on May 27 against the Phillies.  With Friday night’s victory, Noah improved his record to 3-4, with 2 no-decisions.

• Wilmer Flores played a rather smooth shortstop this evening.

• The Mets 3-4-5-6 hitters (Duda, Cuddyer, Flores, Lagares): 0 for 13, 3 strikeouts, one walk, one RBI (Duda).  The Mets totaled just 2 hits for the game, a triple by Herrera and a home run by Granderson.

• Jeurys Familia secured his 21st save of the season.  He has thrown 34.2 innings this season, and now owns a 1.30 ERA (down from 1.34).

Next:

6/27 – Saturday, 4:10pm

Reds @ METS

Michael Lorenzen vs. Matt Harvey