In yet another surprising September turn, Gabriel Ynoa struck out eight over 4 2/3 innings, Jerry Blevins fanned Brian Dozier to complete a four-out save and NY completed a three-game sweep of the woeful Minnesota Twins with a 3-2 victory Sunday.
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Lucas Duda returned after being out since May 20 with a lower back stress fracture, but Curtis Granderson, Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Reyes were all rested from the starting lineup after Saturday night’s 3-2, 12-inning win, and the struggling Jay Bruce was absent as well. Only two other players in the last 25 seasons homered twice in a game in extra-innings, and both did so in 2013. NY has 199 home runs, one shy of the club record set in 2006. He is tied for the major league lead in defensive runs saved by a pitcher, too, so at 43, he is very much in the running to win the first Gold Glove of his career.
The Mets needed a boost on the field after this news and they found it for a sweet victory, which makes them 19 – 7 over their last 26 games.
The Mets got off to a fast start in this game, loading the bases in the first inning against Twins’ starter Kyle Gibson with no one out.
The Mets opened up a half game lead over the San Francisco Giants for the top wild card spot and a 2.5 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals.
In the next inning, Granderson made the Twins pay again with a walk off home run to give the Mets a 3-2 win over the Twins.
Ynoa, making his first career start after six relief appearances with the Mets since being recalled from Class AAA Las Vegas, pitched 42/3 innings, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out eight.
At 79-69, the Mets are 10 games over.500 for the first time this season.
RHP Jacob deGrom’s season is likely over due to an ulnar nerve injury in his right elbow.
“I think I did a good job”, Ynoa said through a translator. “We take the first two games of the series, give the (regulars) a day off and the guys behind them fill in [and] do their thing”.
Meanwhile, Ynoa allowed one run and four hits during a 76-pitch outing.
“He doesn’t have a lot of RBI, there’s a lot of reasons for it, but I tell you, he’s the guy that you just turn to, and you feel like he’s going to do some damage when he goes up to home plate”, Collins said.
Gabriel Ynoa and a “plethora” of relievers will pitch in deGrom’s place Sunday against Minnesota, said Mets manager Terry Collins.
“At the end of the day, kind of doesn’t mean anything, to be honest with you”, Dozier said.
Matched against a pitcher almost half his age, the 43-year-old Colon (14-7) won for the fourth time in five decisions. Walker, who is a free agent after this season, said he has not discussed a new contract with the Mets but also described being in NY as a “great fit.”.
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Collins brought in lefty Josh Edgin to face Logann Schafer, who also singled to left. That return never came, and the Mets lost Matt Harvey for the season, plus Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz for the past month and the past two weeks, respectively. Mets 1B Lucas Duda was activated from the 15-day disabled list after missing nearly four months because of a lower back stress fracture. 2B Brian Dozier’s 22-game hitting streak is the longest by a Twin since Torii Hunter hit in 23 straight games April 11-May, 9, 2007.
