NY Mets: Video of Christian Scott picking up first career strikeout
The New York Mets’ Christian Scott blew a fastball past the Rays’ Randy Arozarena for his career strikeout on May 4, 2024, at Tropicana Field.
- The Mets rallied for a 6-5 win over the Phillies in 11 innings on Thursday night.
PHILADELPHIA — In his first year as Mets manager, Carlos Mendoza admitted that he is not one to call team meetings.
Mendoza would prefer to deliver his messages in smaller settings, like the team’s regular pitchers and hitters’ meetings. But on the heels of a lopsided five-run loss to the Phillies on Wednesday night when errors and lapses in judgment permeated, the Mets manager took a tour around the clubhouse after the game.
“It’s 162,” Mendoza said. “It’s a grind and we’ve just got to continue to keep going and making sure that we all believe that we’re a good team.”
The Mets appeared to get the message in a topsy-turvy game one night late. They conceded a two-run lead, went ahead then bounced back after Edwin Diaz blew his third save in four opportunities.
In the top of the 11th inning, JD Martinez laced an RBI single to put the Mets ahead and then scored on a wild pitch as they topped the Phillies, 6-5, in front of 38,267 fans on Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Harrison Bader delivered twice after coming off the bench in the sixth inning. The Mets outfielder laced an RBI single to tie the game in the eighth and a double to left-center field that enabled Martinez to score in the 11th.
“(Mendoza) provided us with some perspective,” Bader said. “He provided us with just a different look on knowing that you have to be able to zoom out and realize all the things you’re doing really well on all sides of the ball.
“Listen, it’s about the next opportunity, which we stress. That’s how I came up in this game is always focusing on the next opportunity, regardless of the previous results.”
It was the Mets’ first win over the Phillies after they dropped their first three — two at Citi Field and the first in Philadelphia. With the victory, the Mets improved to 20-23.
An unknown comeback
One night earlier, the Mets had created their own demise. Joey Lucchesi walked four in the fifth inning and allowed four of his five runs in the frame. Then, both Jeff McNeil and Francisco Lindor committed errors that led to Phillies runs.
On Thursday night, it was time for the Mets to create some of their own luck.
Trailing 3-2 at the top of the eighth inning, Tyrone Taylor reached on an errant throw by Bryson Stott at shortstop and stole second base. Then, Pete Alonso drew a walk. After back-to-back strikeouts, Bader laced a single up the middle that glanced off the back of Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman. Alonso then scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
After the Mets came up empty in the top of the 10th inning, Jorge Lopez got Alec Bohm to ground into a double play and stranded the winning run at third when he got a line drive to Tyrone Taylor in left field.
“It definitely helps after a couple of tough losses lately,” Mendoza said of the emotional win. “Again, I keep saying it’s a long year. You got to stay the course, you got to stay positive, you got to keep picking each other up. I’m glad that we were able to close that one out tonight.:
The Mets had stormed to a 2-0 lead in the opening two innings on Alonso’s 10th home run of the season and an RBI double by Brett Baty. It was only the Mets’ second win in 18 attempts when trailing after seven innings.
Jose Quintana turns in best start of May
Despite being ripped for a combined 12 runs in two starts against the Rays and Braves, Jose Quintana was optimistic. The lefty felt healthy and his arsenal under control.
Quintana finally saw some positive results after tweaking his posture to help with his timing. Through five innings, the veteran had only allowed two hits and hit one batter while striking out four. For the first time all season, he did not issue a walk.
“I’m really happy with the way I threw the ball today,” Quintana said. “I feel more in control. I feel like I changed speeds better and more of my pitches were on the edge. I made up adjustments and want to keep doing it the same way.”
Some trouble came when Quintana faced the top of the Phillies lineup for a third time. He allowed a single to JT Realmuto and another single to Bryce Harper up the middle that rattled around the glove of a diving Francisco Lindor.
Quintana exited after 5⅓ innings with a pair of runners on after throwing 81 pitches and was replaced by Reed Garrett. The Mets reliever gave up an RBI single to Bohm and Harper moved to third base on Taylor’s first error of his career on a wayward throw.
That helped Nick Castellanos tie the score on a sacrifice fly to left field. Quintana finished with two earned runs allowed on four hits.
“I thought the fastball was crisp,” Mendoza said. “The life on the fastball, the movement, he stayed on the attack. I thought he mixed his pitches well in and out of the zone.”
Edwin Diaz struggles again
Diaz is still working to find the dominant form that he displayed prior to last season’s knee injury.
The Mets closer said he’s been working on his mechanics after feeling crossed up. In his first season pitching with the clock, he’s felt a little bit crossed up. He issued a leadoff walk to Brandon Marsh before throwing a pitch to the back stop that allowed Bryson Stott to lace the tying RBI single through the right side.
“It comes down to the mechanics and things that he’s working on,” Mendoza said. “I feel like today, even though he gave up that run in the ninth, I saw some good signs out of him.”
Diaz continues to say he feels good, and he recorded two big outs, striking out Kyle Schwarber and getting Realmuto to line out to exit the frame with the game tied. Jake Diekman worked around an error by Alonso to preserve the Mets’ lead.
