The New York Mets entered Wednesday’s series finale against the Boston Red Sox on their longest losing streak of the season, three games. The Mets’ bats hadn’t shown up at Fenway, only scoring a run in the two games. They caught a break Tuesday when Walker Buehler got ejected in the 2nd. They could do little against the Red Sox bullpen, getting shut out and wasting a quality start by Clay Holmes.
New York’s hitting slump extended back a week. They scored 10 runs during that span, going 5 for 44 with runners in scoring position, leaving 43 men on base. They scored more than two runs only once, and that breakout accounted for only three. Could they show something on Wednesday, or would the losing streak extend into the upcoming weekend showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Manager Carlos Mendoza tweaked the lineup in the hopes of sparking offense. He moved Juan Soto and Pete Alonso down a spot, to third and fourth, while moving Starling Marte up to second. Managers must walk a fine line between patience and pushing players during struggles; they should be willing to make changes when needed.
The Mets faced the Red Sox ace, Garrett Crochet, and he extended the difficult stretch for the New York hitters. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, one run, and striking out five. He allowed only one hiccup, and it occurred in the 2nd. The Mets got the first two men on and then looked like they would once again strand base runners without a score.
Tyrod Taylor popped out to second, and Luisangel Acuna grounded out to third. Brett Baty, likely New York’s most maligned player, came up. Instead of doing what many fans anticipated, getting out and keeping the Mets’ scoreless streak alive, he stroked a single to center, driving in a run. New York stalled from there, but a scoring breakthrough occurred.
Baty has tantalized Mets fans with outstanding minor league production while excelling in Spring Training. He hasn’t been able to translate that into consistent big league production.
While the maddening ups and downs have continued, Baty has been clutch in the biggest games. He hit a home run in the divisional showdown against the Philadelphia Phillies, helping to clinch the sweep. He blasted three HR’s against the Chicago Cubs, helping New York to win the series.
Playing in Fenway Park, one of the MLB’s most renowned stadiums, in a game the Mets desperately needed to win, Baty came up big-time again. His second-inning RBI helped shorten Crochet’s night and enabled New York to get to Boston’s bullpen. Baty helped the Mets take advantage this time, singling to left in the 7th to drive in two runs. He ended the night two for four with three RBI while playing excellent defense at third base.
Tylor Megill is the other agonizing player for New York fans. He has excellent stuff and looked ready for a breakout this season. He performed magnificently, with a 1.73 earned run average in his first five starts and 33 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched. During his last three appearances, the bad Megill returned, as he allowed 12 runs in 12 1/3 innings pitched, struggling terribly with command, walking 10.
Megill, like Baty, has had some of his greatest moments this season in the biggest games. On April 21, against the Phillies, he had his career-best performance, striking out 10 while giving up only one hit. His dominance set the table for the Mets’ sweep of their divisional rival.
Megill found another massive stage, Boston’s Fenway Park, and stepped up huge. Opposing Crochet meant little room for error. Megill held his own against the strong Red Sox lineup, striking out 10 with only one walk, an outstanding ratio. He kept Boston to one run while pitching into the fifth inning.
Megill’s inability to go deeper into the game required New York’s bullpen to step up. Mendoza picked their most effective relief arm this season, Huascar Brazoban, to lead the way. Once again, he didn’t disappoint. He struck out the Red Sox’s most productive hitter, Alex Bregman, ending the 5th.
Brazoban made short work of the Boston hitters in the 6th. He followed up by striking out the side in the 7th. He ended the night pitching 2 1/3 innings, allowing one hit, zero runs, and striking out four. He lowered his ERA to a minuscule 0.90 and became the winner, improving his record to 3-0.
Reed Garrett and Edwin Diaz took the baton from Brazoban in style. Garrett made short work of the Red Sox in the 8th, gaining a hold. Diaz continued his recent turnaround dominance from a mid-April hiccup, getting the last three Boston hitters out after a leadoff walk.
The Mets’ relief corps ended Wednesday, pitching 4 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, zero runs, and striking out six. They left no doubt for a team that sorely needed a confidence builder.
Megill’s performance leaves Mendoza with a difficult decision. Paul Blackburn, out all season, dominated at Triple-A Syracuse in his latest rehab start and is ready to return. Megill has an option, enabling New York to send him to the minors. His latest excellence is likely to have management wondering, though, if a breakthrough could occur.
Do the Mets go to a six-man rotation to keep Megill and make room for Blackburn, or do they feel that Megill needs to work on consistency in Triple-A? Might they instead put Blackburn in the bullpen to try to give him time to work back in the majors? It’s a good problem to have ample starting pitching depth; it will make for some compelling moves over the next few days.
Baty, like Megill, has left New York’s management much to ponder. Over the last couple of weeks, he has looked close to emerging into a productive player in the Big Apple. The best outcome would be Mark Vientos and Baty going on hot streaks, allowing Mendoza to move Vientos to full-time designated hitter. Can they be consistent, though? A positive answer would go a long way to upgrading the Mets’ ceiling.
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