The Tigers’ ace played it over and over against the Mets – that short slider, or cutter, changing speeds easily – in pitching his team back into the win column, 4-3, tonight at Comerica Park.
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NEW YORK: The Mets have lost 10 of their last 11 games coming off a win, are 0-6 in their last six games after allowing two runs or less in their previous game, and are 1-6 in their last seven games versus a starter with WHIP less than 1.15.
Verlander (12-6) allowed only two runs and struck out nine, but the Mets ran his pitch count up to 103 to force him out of the game.
Syndergaard needed 40 pitches to get through the fourth inning alone, when he let a 2-1 Mets lead slip away by surrendering three runs, including a two-run home run to Victor Martinez. Since July 1, he is 5-0 in seven starts with a 1.85 ERA. Syndergaard (9-6) tossed 112 pitches and has hurled 444 pitches over his last three starts spanning 18 innings, and Justin Verlander outdueled the young flamethrower. After Jay Bruce walked and James Loney was retired for the second out, Johnson cleared the right-field fence for his second homer in as many games.
Mets’ Noah Syndergaard pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning.
The matchup of Verlander, 33, and Syndergaard, 23, was dubbed as the grizzled vet against the up-and-comer.
“I would say he just hasn’t put anybody away”, manager Terry Collins said before the game.
The righty needed 19 pitches to escape the first inning, and surrendered a run that inning when Ian Kinsler stole second and third base, and then scored on an RBI groundout by Miguel Cabrera.
After giving up two singles to lead off the second inning, JV came back with two straight strikeouts, induced a fly ball to strand both runners on base and got out of the inning. He gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out seven. Verlander comes off a complete game 3-2 victory versus Houston where he struck out eleven. He gave up a double off the right-centerfield wall to J.D. Martinez and an RBI single to James McCann.
Kelly Johnson gave NY a brief 2-1 lead with his sixth home run of the season and second in as many days.
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Mets: OF Yoenis Cespedes (quadriceps) is on the disabled list, costing him his first visit back to Detroit since he was traded at last year’s deadline.
