PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Like the rest of the MLB, the New York Mets (1-1) were scheduled to start their season on April 1. However, as we have become so accustomed to, the Nationals series was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. As a result, the Mets had to wait until Monday to open up on the road against Philadelphia (4-1).
The Mets dropped the series’s opener but rebounded on Tuesday with a 4-run, 7th inning to win 8-4. They held a two-run lead entering the 7th when Phillies’ reliever Vince Velasquez imploded. He walked 4 of 5 batters he faced in the inning, giving up a run and securing only one out before being pulled.
For the Mets, they capitalized on the opportunity. With the bases loaded, the newest Met Francisco Lindor grabbed his first RBI with a sacrifice fly. Then, the Mets got things going on the basepaths; Brandon Nimmo stole 2nd, and the throw to 2nd allowed Kevin Pillar to score. Michael Conforto followed that up with a double, scoring Nimmo from 2nd and taking a commanding 6-1 lead.
The Mets would add 2 more runs down the stretch while the Phillies added 3 more, 2 in the bottom of the 9th. For the Mets, Marcus Stroman gets credit for his first win of the season. He pitched 6 solid innings, giving up 1 earned run, 3 hits, and struck out 3. On the Phillies’ side, starter Chase Anderson picks up a loss in his first outing of the year on 2 earned runs in 5 innings pitched.
J.D. Davis Leaves the Game with a Hand Injury
Early in the game, the Mets were dealt a blow to their starting lineup. On the first pitch of his first at-bat, he was hit by a pitch directly in the hand. Immediately, the pain Davis was in was evident; if the cracking sound of the ball hitting his hand was not enough, his reaction said it all. As the athletic trainer looked at his hand, it was clear Davis would need to leave the game. Luis Guillorme replaced him as he headed to get x-rays.
Later on, the Mets did get good news; Davis’s x-rays came back negative. According to ESPN, he is day-to-day moving forward with a contusion in his hand. While still a loss for the foreseeable future, plays like that can result in more serious injuries. Mets fans should be happy to know Davis will be back in a short amount of time.
Offensively, the Mets benefited from a huge night from Pete Alonso. He had 2 hits (1 2B, 1 HR), 2 RBIs, and 2 runs. Outfielder Dominic Smith also homered in his first start of the season. For the Phillies, Didi Gregorius had 2 hits, including a 4th inning bomb off Stroman.
Up Next
Mets @ Phillies Game 3, Wednesday, April 6, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
