DeGrom puts on a show at Citi Field as Mets win third straight
Jacob deGrom turned in seven innings of one-run, three-hit, 12-strikeout work, sending the Mets toward their third straight win, a 2-1 decision to close June Friday night at Citi Field.
DeGrom puts on a show at Citi Field as Mets win third straight Jacob deGrom turned in seven innings of one-run, three-hit, 12-strikeout work, sending the Mets toward their third straight win, a 2-1 decision to close June Friday night at Citi Field. Check out this story on northjersey.com: https://njersy.co/2u8RcvR
Special to The Record Published 10:10 p.m. ET June 30, 2017 | Updated 12:47 a.m. ET July 1, 2017
Jacob deGrom (8-3) got the win as the Mets topped the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, June 30, 2017. He went seven innings, allowing only three hits and the one run while striking out 12 at Citi Field.(Photo: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)
NEW YORK -- Jacob deGrom lost his way in late May and early June, turning in two very ugly starts for the Mets. But then he found his way again, dominating the Cubs, Nationals and Giants.
Now the not-so-fabulous Phillies were trying to hit him.
It didn't go well for them.
New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes (7) reacts after hitting a triple in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on Friday, June 30, 2017. (Photo: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)
The All-Star teams will be revealed Sunday, and deGrom sure looks like he should be hanging with the elite crowd for the second time in three years. He turned in seven innings of one-run, three-hit, 12-strikeout work, sending the Mets toward their third straight win, a 2-1 decision to close June Friday night at Citi Field.
"He's in a groove for sure," Terry Collins said.
This team is in a groove. The Mets got swept across four games in Los Angeles, then took five of the final six games on their 10-game trip.
Now they have cut Washington's lead over them to nine and a half games in the NL East. They began play nine and a half back of the Rockies for the second wild card.
Mets manager Terry Collins (10) before start of game against Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on Friday, June 30, 2017. (Photo: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)
The Mets have this three-game homestand against Philadelphia -- the team with the majors' worst record, now at 26-52 -- then three at Washington and three at St. Louis before the All-Star break.
"I think going into L.A. and getting our teeth kicked in was kind of a wake-up call -- let's go," deGrom said after the Mets moved to 37-42. "If we're going to do, we're running out of time. … We know we've got a good team, and it's just a matter of going out there and playing."
The Mets scored in the second after deGrom worked out a two-out walk, putting runners at the corners against Ben Lively (1-3). Curtis Granderson then beat out an infield hit behind second to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
They scored again in the fourth on a triple by Jose Reyes and a single by Travis d'Arnaud.
New York Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud, left, and pitcher Addison Reed walk off the field after the Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in a baseball game, Friday, June 30, 2017, in New York. (Photo: Julie Jacobson, AP)
That's all deGrom needed. He has allowed just one run in each of his last four starts. His ERA stands at 0.84 over this stretch.
His record stands at 8-3. His overall ERA is 3.55.
With two outs in the fifth, he had a no-hitter.
"I might've thought about it," deGrom said.
Then Andrew Knapp lifted a fly to center. Granderson looked up into the twilight and couldn't find it. The ball fell behind him, good for a triple.
"Can't catch what you can't see," Granderson said.
New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) warms up for the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, June 30, 2017, in New York. (Photo: Julie Jacobson, AP)
Ex-Met Ty Kelly followed with a clean single to left, cutting the lead in half.
"I've got to get him out there," deGrom said.
After striking out the side in the sixth, deGrom allowed a single with two outs in the seventh. But then he got Knapp swinging on his 111th and final pitch.
The difference, according to deGrom, has been his fastball command. But he has gotten back to throwing an effective changeup, too.
"It's an equalizer," d'Arnaud said.
Paul Sewald stranded the potential tying run at second to close the eighth, and Addison Reed worked a perfect ninth to save it for deGrom.
"He threw more breaking balls than I've seen him throw in the past, or at least that I can recall," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said of deGrom. "He's a good pitcher. We couldn't solve him."