Jacob deGrom had seemingly picked up where he left off last season. Entering Tuesday's home start against the Minnesota Twins, the New York Mets ace and reigning NL Cy Young award winner had yet to allow an earned run in his first two starts of 2019. However, his record-tying streak of 26 consecutive quality starts came to an abrupt end as the Twins hit three home runs — two by catcher Mitch Garver — and touched up deGrom for six runs in four innings. He left for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fourth after throwing 97 pitches with the Mets trailing 6-3. The last time deGrom allowed more than three runs in a game was 364 days ago when the Miami Marlins scored four. Since starting his quality-start streak, he had racked up 237 strikeouts, held opponents to a .193 batting average and pitched to a 1.55 ERA. His 26 consecutive quality starts tied the major league record set by Hall of Famer Bob Gibson in 1968.<doc-sep>Tuesday was just the third time he gave up back-to-back homers in his career. It also marked the first time since May 13, 2018 that deGrom did not pitch at least six innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs. He had not allowed more than three runs in a game since last April 10.<doc-sep>Jacob deGrom can separate himself from Hall of Famer Bob Gibson on Tuesday night as the first big-league pitcher to amass 27 consecutive quality starts. He and Gibson are tied with 26. DeGrom will set the record if he yields no more than three earned runs in at least six innings against the Twins at Citi Field. Gibson was 251-174 with a 2.91 ERA in 17 seasons with the Cardinals. He coached for the Mets under manager Joe Torre in 1981. “Any time you’re mentioned alongside guys like that, it’s definitely an honor,” deGrom said. “I don’t think that much about it. When I go out there, it’s to put us into a position to win.” The quality start was originated in the mid-1980s when then-Philadelphia Inquirer baseball writer John Lowe coined the term based on Whitey Herzog’s mantra of “all I want from my pitchers is six good innings.” Lowe calculated the innings and runs — three earned runs in six innings is a 4.50 ERA — and the term became so popular that it was applied to all starting pitchers past and present. DeGrom’s streak began on May 18, 2018; Gibson’s was during the 1967 and 1968 seasons. “I am glad that there is a quantifiable way to show what he’s doing and what he is achieving,” Lowe said from Seal Beach, California. “It would certainly seem to be an unmatched feat [for a starter] in the bullpen era.” Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. DeGrom, who won the National League Cy Young Award last season, has a 1.55 ERA in his 26-game streak. He’s given up 32 earned runs in 185 2⁄3 innings. Gibson allowed 23 earned runs in 229 innings for a 0.90 ERA. DeGrom has a ways to go to challenge Gibson’s more historic record — his modern-era single-season ERA of 1.12 in 1968. Johnny Edwards caught 10 of Gibson’s 34 starts that season. “I think that will hold up forever,” Edwards said Monday from Magnolia, Texas. Gibson had 28 complete games that season. Pointing to today’s fewer innings by starters, Edwards said, “If you have one bad game in there, the ERA will skyrocket. Maybe I’m wrong; I just think Gibson’s is going to be there forever.” DeGrom is unscored upon in 13 innings this season and 26 overall dating to last season, when he had a 1.70 ERA. Dwight Gooden’s 1.53 in 1985 set the Mets record for starting pitchers. “That’s low,” deGrom said of Gibson’s record ERA. “I don’t know about impossible. I don’t think anything’s impossible. But that’s really low.” Gibson’s ERA in 1968 was a contributing factor in Major League Baseball’s decision to lower the mound from 15 inches to 10 in 1969. “I wasn’t aware of that,” deGrom said. Gibson, 83, was not available for comment. DeGrom’s teammates are not surprised at anything he does or might accomplish in the future. “Everybody knows he’s a superstar,” reliever Jeurys Familia said. “The way he pitches is the same way he pitched last year. I’m not that surprised. For me, he’s the best in the game. Best pitcher right now in ability. If he’s healthy, I won’t be surprised what number [ERA] he can put out there.” Fellow starter Zack Wheeler said, “I don’t know if I’m amazed just because I know how good he really is. I think that’s just him as a pitcher now. So we’re getting kind of used to it, I guess you could say. But it’s impressive what he’s doing.” Wheeler isn’t so sure about challenging Gibson’s ERA. “That would be very hard,’’ he said. “The hitters are very good, they make adjustments. There’s a lot of variables going against you. It would be very impressive to get a low ERA like that.’’ Pitching coach Dave Eiland added, “This guy’s so talented, so driven, uber-competitive. And if you’re around him for a while, then nothing he does surprises you. A lot of this game is confidence. The talent level, for the most part, it’s a pretty level playing field. It’s the ones that are confident and who test their ability and, for a pitcher, throw each pitch with conviction. That’s what Jacob deGrom does.”<doc-sep>Jacob deGrom's record-tying streak of quality starts is over at 26. The New York Mets right-hander wasn't able to pass Bob Gibson's mark set over the 1967 and 1968 seasons. Minnesota Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario launched a two-run homer in the third inning of Tuesday's game, putting his team up 4-1 and snapping deGrom's streak. It was the first time since May 13, 2018, that deGrom didn't pitch at least six innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Additionally, deGrom's MLB-record run of not allowing three runs in a game since last April 10 ended. The star pitcher was honest about his performance when he met with reporters. "Tonight's on me. I was bad out there. That's all there was to it." deGrom said. The Twins also managed to halt the 30-year-old's career-best streak of 27 scoreless innings. Following the game, Mets manager Mickey Callaway praised his ace's accomplishments. "He and Bob Gibson had it longer than anyone else in the history of the game. And tonight, he just didn't have it." Callaway said. DeGrom pitched just four innings against Minnesota, surrendering six earned runs while only striking out three batters on 97 pitches. He now owns a 3.18 ERA, which is his highest at the end of a game since April 16, 2018, according to DiComo.<doc-sep>
For the first time in almost a full calendar year, Mets ace Jacob deGrom yielded four-plus runs. The Marlins scored four runs off of him across six innings on April 10 last year. From that point through the end of the season, deGrom would limit the opposition to three runs or fewer en route to the NL Cy Young Award. deGrom’s mastery continued in his first two starts of the season. He opened up 2019 with six shutout innings and 10 strikeouts against the Nationals, then backed it up with seven shutout frames and 14 punch-outs versus of the Marlins last week. The Twins had other ideas on Tuesday. Mitch Garver took deGrom yard in the second inning, a solo shot to center field. Then the Twins’ offense erupted for a four-spot in the third. Jorge Polanco scored on a wild pitch, Eddie Rosario lifted a two-run home run, and Mitch Garver hit another solo homer. Per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, deGrom’s quality start streak of 26 games — tied with Bob Gibson for the major league record — has ended. Five runs marks the most deGrom has given up in a game since the Phillies plated nine runs (six earned) against him on September 5, 2017. He last surrendered three-plus homers on July 7, 2017 against the Cardinals, who hit four. As an aside, the quality start metric is poor, especially in this day and age. To qualify, a pitcher need only hold the opposing offense to three or fewer runs over six or more innings. Similarly stated: a 4.50 ERA at minimum. A 4.50 ERA is what one might expect from a No. 4 starter, so it is not exactly indicative of a “quality” pitching performance. Across the span of deGrom’s 26-game streak, he actually had a 1.55 ERA — far, far better than the quality start metric illuminates.