The Mets came out swinging tonight, and made contact with pretty much everything thrown at them, routing the Phillies 14-4. They ended their sole reliance on Jay Bruce’s bat and decided to let the rest of the team get some offense in.
The game started with Curtis Granderson walking, Asdrubal Cabrera doubling, and Yoenis Cespedes hitting a three-run home run. The night didn’t get any better for Phillies starter Clay Buchholz, who gave up six earned runs in less than three innings, and left the game with a right forearm strain.
Buchholz was relieved by Adam Morgan, who gave up four runs of his own, followed by Joely Rodriguez, who gave up three earned runs, and Jeanmar Gomez, who gave up one. None of the Phillies’ pitchers looked very comfortable at any point, and the Mets made sure that continued, scoring in eight of the nine innings.
Matt Harvey made his second start of the season, and continued to work his way back to his pre-surgery quality. While he gave up some hard contact, including a solo home run to Maikel Franco, Harvey looked sharp throughout his five and two-thirds innings. After covering first base in the sixth inning, Harvey left the game with a tight hamstring. After the game, Harvey declare that he will be fine for his next start.
But tonight was really about the offense. Every one of the starting eight got at least one hit, including the severely slumping Jose Reyes, who hit a double down the right field line in the third inning. Bruce, who has been carrying the team early on, drove in two runs with a single in the second inning.
But the real offensive star of the night was Cespedes, who belted three home runs and a double. Cespedes became the only player in Mets history to have two three-home run games, having already accomplished the feat in 2015 at Coors Field in Denver. On any other night, the fact that Lucas Duda, Travis d’Arnaud, and Asdrubal Cabrera all missed a cycle by a triple, would be the story. Especially impressive was Duda, who homered twice, including a mammoth shot in the six that was absolutely crushed 440 feet.
Harvey was relieved by Hansel Robles, who looked great in his inning and a third. Eventually, Josh Edgin came into the game, and continued his rough start to the season, giving up two earned runs and generally being hit quite hard. Paul Sewald pitched the ninth, and had trouble finding the plate, but managed to get through the inning unscathed.
The Mets will go for the sweep tomorrow, when Zack Wheeler hopes to put his first start of the year behind him.
SB Nation GameThreads
Box scores
Win Probability Added
Big winners: Asdrubal Cabrera, +15.8% WPA+, Yoenis Cespedes, 13.3% WPA+
Big losers: Jose Reyes, -1.7% WPA+
Teh aw3s0mest play: Yoenis Cespedes’s first inning three run shot, 13.2% WPA+
Teh sux0rest play: Yoenis Cespedes pops out to the catcher, -3.5% WPA+
Total pitcher WPA: 7.2% WPA+
Total batter WPA: 42.8% WPA+
GWRBI!: Jay Bruce