8/10 Mets Game Recap – Zack Wheeler Sharp as Mets Hold Off Diamondbacks 4-1

Zack Wheeler had arguably his best start so far in the Majors until he closed in on 100 pitches. He gave up 1 run on 6 hits in 6.1 innings, walking nobody, striking out 4. We’ll get to that 1 run later on in the recap of the 4-1 win for the New York Mets.

Box Score and Highlights Here.

They got the scoring started off starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy in the 4th with a Juan Lagares leadoff home run, his 3rd of the season. After Daniel Murphy lined out and Marlon Byrd grounded out, Ike Davis doubled on a line drive to center field. On the 2nd pitch Wilmer Flores saw, he singled in Ike to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.

With 93 pitches on his night to start the top of the 7th, it took 7 pitches for Aaron Hill to homer to left-center, cutting the Mets lead to 1. Wheeler got Cody Ross to fly out to right before Wil Nieves singled. That brought on Terry Collins to replace Zack with Scott Rice. Gerardo Parra then singled Nieves to 3rd, but Scott got Cliff Pennington swinging. He walked pinch-hitter A.J. Pollock, who was up for McCarthy, but on the 1st pitch to Adam Eaton, he got him to ground out on a force-out at 2nd to end the inning and the bases loaded threat.

David Hernandez took over for the D’Backs in the top of the 8th and promptly walked Eric Young, Jr. Lagares the put a bunt on the ground to 3rd, Martin Prado unable to make the play (the scorer giving Lagares the single.) Murph hit it 400 feet for an out to center, sending Young to 3rd. Byrd struck out with Juan stealing the base on the out. This brought Kirk Gibson to walk Davis to go after the rookie Flores, who almost doubled everybody in on the 1st pitch, but it went down the line and missed the chalk by a foot. On the 2nd pitch, however, he gave the Mets a 4-1 lead with 2 RBI single. Buck almost gave the Mets more, but Parra made a spectacular catch.

Carlos Torres took over in the bottom half, but immediately gave up a Prado single. Though Omar Quintanilla and Murph turned a spectacular double play, Aaron Hill singled before Ross moved him over to 3rd on one of his own. Warthen tried to calm Torres down, but he unfortunately then walked Nieves. Pedro Feliciano relieved Torres to face Parra, and battled for 6 pitches to strike the outfielder out.

After a scoreless top of the 9th, LaTroy Hawkins opened the bottom frame by striking out Pennington in the dirt, which required a throw to 1st for the out. Jason Kubel in the pitcher’s spot flied out to Eric Young in foul territory before Adam Eaton singled up the middle. He took 2nd on defensive indifference, but with Paul Goldschmidt looming on deck as the tying run, LaTroy struck Prado out looking to lock down the win and the save once again in Bobby Parnell‘s place.

Notables:

• Zack Wheeler was fantastic. Though I already gave the numbers, I might as well write them again: He gave up 1 run on 6 hits in 6.1 innings, striking out 4 and walking none for the 1st time in his Major League career.
• Juan Lagares was 2 for 5 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored, including the opposite field home run.
• Ike Davis was 2 for 2 with 2 walks and 1 run scored.
• Wilmer Flores was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI.

Thoughts:

Per usual, the Mets continue to bounce back after a tough loss. Keep it up, and take the series tomorrow.

LHP Jon Niese (3-6, 4.32 ERA) makes his 1st start off the DL against RHP Zeke Spruill (0-1, 6.48 ERA) Sunday at 4:10PM ET.

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