I’d like a dozen runs to go, please

The Mets opened up their home stand in desperate need of some offense and a win, and they got both in a 12-2 laugher against the Blue Jays.

With the God of Thunder on the mound and @BringerOfRain20 in the visiting dugout, naturally the start of this game was delayed due to severe thunderstorms. After almost an hour and a half delay the game started and a familiar face stepped into the batter’s box.

Curtis Granderson got a nice tribute and deserves all the attention he will receive in this brief visit, but unfortunately he also had to face Noah Syndergaard to start the game. Thor appeared in the first inning throwing gas and striking out the side.

Syndergaard’s bat also had an impact on this game early when he hit a double down the line to drive in Devin Mesoraco to put the Mets on the board. Mesoraco crossed the plate as the Mets’ first run in this one and he would eventually score as their last run when he blasted a two-run home run in the eighth to cap the scoring. The catcher had a perfect day at the plate going 2-for-2 with three walks, two RBIs, and four runs scored. His production was a breath of fresh air considering what this team had been getting offensively out of their catchers.

Mesoraco was not the only one who had a good day at the plate. Juan Lagares had a four-hit day and three RBIs, and Amed Rosario looked fantastic at the plate with a 3-for-4 night. He hit the ball hard in every at-bat and just missed a home run in the fourth. Instead he settled for an RBI double which came at a crucial point in the game. The Mets had just tied the game at two after loading the bases. Syndergaard hit a sac fly to tie the game, and Rosario’s double made them regain a lead they would never be in any danger of losing for the rest of the game.

The Blue Jays briefly held the lead when Curtis Granderson singled with one out in the third. He stole second but slammed on the brakes at third when Juan Lagares fielded Justin Smoak’s single. Lagares’s throw was offline but Grandy stayed where he was. The Mets seemed to catch a break but with the bases loaded, Yangervis Solarte chopped a singled through the infield and two runs scored.

Syndergaard was by no means bad in this start but he did have trouble getting through five innings, even when he was handed a four run lead. The pitch count was alarmingly high and he seemed to back off from his fastball. Still, he managed to strike out seven and allowed a lot of weak contact on the balls put in play.

Seth Lugo and the newly-recalled Jacob Rhame were called upon to close out the last four innings. Lugo went the first three and allowed only one hit and struck out four. Rhame handled the ninth easily and pitched a clean inning to secure the victory.

Considering the lineup Mickey Callaway posted to take on lefty Jaime Garcia, and taking into account the Mets’ recent offensive struggles, and how they have fared against lefties this season, this game seemed doomed from the beginning. The Mets got some offense from unexpected places, the pitching was solid, and the bullpen was fantastic. The Mets can only hope that this game was a sign of things to come and not just a fleeting rainbow among the dark clouds.

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What’s WPA?

Big winners: Juan Lagares +17.9%, Amed Rosario +16.6%
Big losers: Brandon Nimmo -10.7%
Teh aw3s0mest play: Amed Rosario double in fourth
Teh sux0rest play: Yangervis Solarte single in third
Total pitcher WPA: -4%
Total batter WPA: +50.4%
GWRBI!: Amed Rosario