On a flawless day in Chicago, Sean Manaea delivered exactly what the New York Mets needed, pitching seven innings of shutout baseball as the Mets defeated the Chicago White Sox 2-0, completing a weekend sweep. This victory brought the Mets to within 1.5 games of the Atlanta Braves for the third Wild Card spot, with the potential to close the gap further if the Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Diego Padres suffer any kind of loss as the day continues.
Manaea was exceptional on the mound, throwing 96 pitches over his seven innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out five. This outing marked the fifth time in his last seven starts that he has gone seven innings, lowering his season ERA to 3.35. Manaea also showcased his defensive skills by picking off Lenyn Sosa at first base in the bottom of the fourth inning, recording his third pickoff of the season.
Throughout the afternoon, Manaea recorded nine outs with three pitches or fewer and 16 of 24 pitches were first pitch strikes and also threw a career-high 64 sinkers. Supporting Manaea, Luis Torrens caught Luis Robert Jr. attempting to steal second in the bottom of the seventh, bringing his season total to 12 runners caught stealing out of 20 attempts.
Francisco Lindor. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Garrett Crochet started for the White Sox and was solid on the mound until the top of the fourth. Francisco Lindor continued his MVP-caliber season by blasting his 29th home run off Crochet, providing the Mets with their first run of the game. Lindor extended his on-base streak to 30 games and his hitting streak to 12 games. In the top of the ninth, Pablo Reyes made his debut for the Mets as a pinch-runner for J.D. Martinez and was driven in by a Starling Marte double, extending the lead to 2-0.
Reed Garrett would come in relief for Manaea and would pitch a scoreless frame with a strikeout in the eighth and that would allow Edwin Díaz to come in and seal the deal by striking out the side in the ninth for his 16th save of the season.
Since coming to the Mets in a trade with the Yankees, Luis Torrens has been close to the perfect backup catcher. Torrens threw out Luis Robert Jr. and has gone 12-for-20 in runners caught stealing, which turns to a 60% success rate, far better than the major league average of 30%.
Sean Manaea’s performance today added to his already exceptional summer, as he threw 96 pitches over his seven innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out five to help the Mets shut out and sweep the White Sox. This is the fifth time in his last seven starts that he has gone seven innings and is 4-1 in his prior seven starts with an ERA of 2.42.
The Mets head back to Citi Field to take on the Boston Red Sox. Luis Severino (9-6, 3.96 ERA) toes the slab for the Mets while Brayan Bello (12-6, 4.66 ERA) starts for the Red Sox. First pitch is at 7:10 pm ET and will be broadcast on SNY and on Mets Radio 880 AM.
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