Curtis Granderson’s upbeat personality aided the Mets in navigating a hard day at the ballpark. After an extra-innings win Saturday night, they rested their veteran bats and relied on the reserves.
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The Mets set the bar low for rookie Gabriel Ynoa’s first career major-league start Sunday against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field. After the Mets tied things up in 8th inning, the game eventually went to extra frames. He was in a 1-for-26 slump before his first shot.
“I don’t know”, Mets manager Terry Collins said.
With two outs and in the 12, Granderson lined Ryan O’Rourke’s full-count offering into the right-field seats for his 28 home run of the year. Salas retired Byron Buxton on a flyout before Jerry Blevins came on with a runner on third and recorded the final out before pitching a hitless ninth for his second save. “It would be a tremendous achievement to have that (Wild Card) game here but it would be a tremendous achievement to get in after what we’ve been through so that’s our No. 1 focus”. Ynoa will pitch in place of RHP Jacob deGrom, who was scratched from his scheduled start due to an ulnar nerve injury that will likely end his season.
“But we’ve had some great guys step in even in the time he’s been gone”.
Twins: LHP Hector Santiago (12-8) is to start Tuesday’s series opener against visiting Detroit after Minnesota made a decision to skip RHP Tyler Duffey.
Of Rivera, the undrafted free agent now in the mix, Collins said, “I truly believe in overachievers”. We can sit down and name a lot of guys who nobody expected to get here.
The New York Mets are experiencing a roller coaster of emotions in a 24-hour period as they prepare to wrap up a three-game interleague series against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Sunday. Goeddel pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and was awarded the win since official scoring rules state a starting pitcher must complete five innings for a win. It was the first victory since August 17 for Gibson, who was tagged for 18 runs and surrendered five homers in 22 frames over his four previous turns. Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson comes off one of his best starts of the season, as he limited the Tigers to one run over eight innings in a victory. He walked four but stranded them all, allowing his only run on a homer by Eddie Rosario in the fourth.
The Mets used eight pitchers Saturday, but long relievers Sean Gilmartin and Logan Verrett and former starter Rafael Montero – who initially filled in for deGrom but lost his rotation spot after issuing 14 walks in three starts – did not pitch and should be available to back up Ynoa. The 2014 NL Rookie of the Year felt fine while throwing a bullpen Friday but sensed a twinge after tossing a baseball in from the outfield during batting practice about 15 minutes later. The Mets have hit 18 home runs in their last 11 games and 36 in their last 21 contests and, amazingly, the Mets are 69-37 when they homer. “I think it was big for me to go the other way, not try to do too much in that situation, ” Conforto said. The blast left 29 injured.
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“For us to finish however many we’ve got left”, Collins said. Collins is hopeful he will after Matz tossed a 30-pitch bullpen session on Saturday at the team’s complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Lucas Duda missed four months. To make space, the Mets transferred LHP Jonathon Niese to the 60-day disabled list.
