deGrom, Jackson, and Nimmo put a hurt on the Reds today at Citi

In a season where Jacob deGrom has been hard pressed to find run support, the Mets came through for him today, toppling the Reds 8-0 in a nooner at Citi Field. From the second inning on, there was little doubt that today would look significantly better than last night’s rain-delayed mess.

The offensive show began in the second inning, when Michael Conforto led off the inning with a walk against starter Robert Stephenson. Two batters later, Austin Jackson drilled a double to left field, scoring Conforto from first base. Jackson would have one of his best offensive games as a Met thus far, and this was just the beginning.

In the fourth, things looked quite similar, with Jose Bautista leading off the inning with a walk, to be followed by Brandon Nimmo’s double one batter later. After striking out Jackson, Stephenson intentionally walked Devin Mesoraco to load the bases. Four pitches later, he walked deGrom, driving in Bautista. Amed Rosario would then hit a sacrifice fly, plating Nimmo, and putting the Mets up 3-0.

One inning later, the scoring continued unabated. Conforto and Nimmo both doubled, and Jackson drove in Nimmo with a single, giving deGrom a five run lead going into the sixth.

deGrom threw a lot of pitches today, which took him out of the game after just six innings, but he was his typically dominant self. Over 100 pitches, deGrom struck out ten, walked just one, and gave up four hits. And, unlike seemingly ever other start he’s made this season, the bullpen managed to keep the score intact over their three innings of work.

Seth Lugo and Jerry Blevins, collectively, allowed one baserunner over their two innings of work. Lugo allowed a two-out single to Curt Casali in the seventh, but stranded him on first base. Blevins struck out both former Met Dilson Herrera and Billy Hamilton in his perfect eighth inning.

In the bottom of that inning, back to back walks to Wilmer Flores and Conforto set up back to back doubles from Nimmo and Jackson, bringing in three more runs. The eight runs would prove to be more than enough.

Two singles off of Robert Gsellman in the ninth would prove to be the closest the Reds came to a rally today, and neither made it to third base. This was as decisive a win as the Mets have had in months, and it must feel good, even if it is against a team that should not, going into this season, have posed much of a threat to the Mets.

Tomorrow is an off-day, after which the Mets will start a three game series with the Marlins in Miami. Zack Wheeler gets the call on Friday night against Jose Urena.

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hat’s WPA?

Big winners: Jacob deGrom, +27.5% WPA, Austin Jackson, +11.9% WPA, Brandon Nimmo, +11.5% WPA
Big losers: None! Huzzah!
Teh aw3s0mest play: Austin Jackson’s second inning double, +12.5% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Scooter Gennett’s first inning single, -6.5% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: +30.1% WPA
Total batter WPA: +19.9% WPA
GWRBI!: Austin Jackson