The Minnesota Twins have no choice but to look far ahead – to next year – while taking what they can from the final weeks of a lost season. New York’s collective psyche received a boost Friday with the news that Jacob deGrom would start the series finale, only to find out the next day that he will require elbow surgery.”I actually watched Jake’s bullpen yesterday and it was outstanding”, Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters Saturday.
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The Mets look to pad their wild-card lead behind a rookie pitcher making his first career start and a yet-to-be determined lineup Sunday when NY goes for a series sweep of the Twins at Citi Field.
Gabriel Ynoa struck out eight over 4 2/3 innings in his first major league start to aid the Mets’ rickety rotation, and host NY completed a three-game sweep of the woeful Minnesota Twins with a 3-2 victory Sunday.
However, their 3-0 win against AL cellar dwellers Minnesota Twins has allowed the Mets to establish a game and a half lead over the suddenly struggling St. Louis Cardinals, and has made the NL wildcard race a little bit clearer.
Matched against a pitcher almost half his age, Colon also helped himself with his glove – starting an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play in the first and covering first base on a grounder to the right side in the seventh.
“I always do that”, Colon said through a translator.
New York’s sixth pitcher, Blevins got his fourth career save and second this year.
Minnesota is a major league-worst 55-93, losing 92 games or more for the fifth time in six seasons.
That’s a pretty dang good night for the Mets outfielder. Minnesota OF Eddie Rosario (jammed thumb) was not in the lineup after getting injured in the 10th inning Saturday.
Ynoa breezed through the Twins, except in the second.
By hitting a tying home run in the 11th inning and a winning homer in the 12th Saturday, Granderson joined Philadelphia’s John Mayberry Jr.
Vargas homered in the eighth against Fernando Salas, a drive off the Wise billboard above the bullpens, and Blevins retired pinch-hitter Eduardo Escobar on a popup to strand Robbie Grossman at third in the eighth.
Granderson’s second homerun didn’t just give the Mets a much-needed win, but it set several records in the process.
The Twins are off Monday before returning home to host Detroit Tuesday.
Mets right-hander Seth Lugo, who won his four previous starts, gave up one run, four hits and four walks while striking out two over five innings.
Collins also said left-hander Steven Matz, who has not pitched since August 14 because of shoulder tightness, may throw a Wednesday bullpen session in NY rather than at the team’s spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida. New York INF Wilmer Flores (right wrist) was unavailable Sunday. Yoenis Cespedes added an RBI single in the seventh off Pat Light. 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.
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Left-hander Josh Edgin (1-0) earned the win with a hitless 12th. Rookie pitcher Jose Berrios singled softly to right in the third in his first big league plate appearance, and Dozier reached on a slow bouncer to third that left Jose Reyes with no throw.
