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After going the entire month without giving up a single run, Seth Lugo has been rewarded for his recent dominance by being named the National League Reliever of the Month for July. It marks the second time a Mets pitcher has won the award since its inception in 2005, and the first since Billy Wagner in July of 2007.
In addition to keeping opponents off the scoreboard entirely, Lugo also racked up 16 strikeouts in 12.2 innings of work over the course of July while holding opponents to a paltry .075/.119/.075 batting line. His performance has played a big role in the team’s recent success and the bullpen’s improved output over the past couple weeks.
In a season in which the bullpen has severely underperformed—including pitchers like Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia, who were supposed to form the bedrock of the team’s relief corps—Lugo has been one of the few to live up to expectations, as his 2.73 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 52.2 innings will attest to. This latest recognition is just another bright spot in what has been a special season for him.