Mets Scores & Recaps

Vargas couldn’t limit the damage, and the Mets drop the finale to the Yankees

The Subway Series is mercifully over.

By Brian Salvatore Jul 4, 2019, 8:06am EDT

The Mets had a chance to win their first season series with the Yankees in six years when they took the field tonight. However, by the time they came to bat in the bottom of the first inning, the game was already decided. The Mets’ bats went dead, and they lost to the Yankees 5-1.

Jason Vargas started for the Mets, and gave up hard contact from the very beginning. The first two batters of the game, DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge, both doubled hard off of Vargas, making it 1-0 before the first out was recorded. Gleyber Torres singled later in the inning, bringing in Judge with the second run.

Jeff McNeil led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run, his seventh of the year, which would account for all of the Mets’ offense for the game. The only other batter to reach second base was Pete Alonso, who hit his 20th double of the year in the third inning. The double was Alonso’s 50th extra base hit of the season. Pete is something special.

Yankees starter Domingo German was quite effective in his six innings of work, striking out six and walking done. Chad Green and Nestor Cortes finished the game for the Yankees, throwing two and one innings, respectfully, of scoreless ball.

Vargas settled down and, aided by some fine defensive plays, especially on a rare 2-5-4 double play in the fourth inning. He finished the fifth inning, and looked done. But, Mickey Callaway sent him out in the sixth, and he promptly gave up a solo home run to Didi Gregorious. Wilmer Font then relieved him, and gave up a home run to Gio Urshela. Font went one and a third innings, giving up an additional run in the bottom of the seventh.

He was eventually replaced by Steven Matz, making his first big-league relief appearance. Matz faced one batter, retiring Gregorious on a ground ball to the right side. Robert Gsellman and Jeruys Familia each struck out two in their innings of work.

The Mets have tomorrow off before hosting the Phillies for a three-game series over the weekend. Vince Velasquez and Jacob deGrom square off for the first game on Friday night, which happens to be Seinfeld Bobblehead Night.

SB Nation GameThreads

Amazin’ Avenue

Pinstripe Alley