The Mets (34-37) came to Texas for a matchup with the Rangers (33-39) with all the momentum in the world. They entered Monday’s game with a five-game winning streak and the best winning percentage in baseball since May 30. Instead of falling flat like the team often does, the Mets’ offense had arguably their best game of the year, delivering an onslaught to defeat the Rangers 14-2.
It was an awe-inspiring display from the Mets, who had 22 hits. It was the team’s first game with 20-plus hits in five years. Seven of the nine batters in the lineup recorded two or more hits, and five recorded three or more hits. That includes Francisco Lindor, who went 4-for-4 in a stellar outing, and Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso, who each had three hits.
Jun 17, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo (9) celebrates his two-run home run with teammates in the dugout against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
New York ambushed Jon Gray (2-3, 3.31 ERA) early in the game, and he never seemed comfortable. It was a death-by-a-thousand-papercuts approach, with eight of the first 13 Mets batters recording hits, all singles. Gray was able to limit the damage in the first inning after allowing three hits, only surrendering one run on a Pete Alonso RBI single.
It was a different story in the second inning, though, as the Mets poured it on for six runs. Mark Vientos and Jeff McNeil set the table by singling to put runners on first and second with one out. Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Pete Alonso then recorded RBI singles to put the Mets in front 4-0. DJ Stewart then provided the exclamation point, unloading on a first-pitch fastball for a three-run bomb. That put the Mets ahead 7-0 in just the second inning.
Gray finally settled in for a 1-2-3 inning in the third but was pulled after two batters in the fourth after he gave up a leadoff single to Francisco Lindor and a two-run homer to Brandon Nimmo. In three-plus innings, the Mets drubbed Gray for nine runs and 11 hits, including two home runs. His season ERA ballooned from 2.17 to 3.31.
Brandon Nimmo sends one WAY OUT! It’s 9-2 Mets! pic.twitter.com/ZpUmzDK7Y4
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) June 18, 2024
It was a truly awful showing from Gray, but he wasn’t the only Texas pitcher to have trouble, with the Mets pouring it on even after his departure. Jonathan Hernández served as the bulk pitcher for Texas, throwing 58 pitches in 2 2/3 innings, and he allowed three runs on RBI hits from Lindor, Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez.
By the seventh inning, the Mets’ top guys were replaced by bench players. It was 12-2 with the game all but over, and the Mets still managed to keep scoring by getting two more in the eighth. They finished the game with a total of 14 runs and 22 hits.
The Mets’ early productivity allowed David Peterson (3-0, 3.97 ERA) to pitch with little pressure. Whether or not that affected his performance, Peterson looked great. He only allowed two runs via a Robbie Grossman homer in the third inning that cut the Mets’ 7-0 lead to 7-2. He pitched well otherwise and got through six innings, securing him a quality start. His final line was 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB and 6 K to lower his season ERA from 4.32 to 3.97.
Adam Ottavino pitched two stress-free innings in relief before Drew Smith mercifully put the game to bed with a scoreless ninth inning. That gave the Mets their sixth consecutive win and put them up to three games under .500 at 34-37.
The Mets recorded 20 hits in a game for the first time since 2019 with their showing on Monday night. It was a constant attack, as the Mets got three hits in the first inning and kept on hitting the rest of the game. In addition to all the hits, the Mets scored 10-plus runs for the third time in the last six games. The offense is on some right now and looks the best it has all year.
You could pick a handful of Mets batters, not to mention Peterson with his quality start, for Player of the Game. Nimmo went 3-for-4 with a home run, Alonso also had three hits, but Francisco Lindor went 4-for-4 by recording a hit in each one of his at-bats. Lindor also scored three runs and drove in two. Lindor raised his batting average by .013 points and his OPS by .020 points. He continues to do nothing but hit since being moved to the leadoff spot.
The Mets continue their series with the Rangers on Tuesday with Luis Severino (4-2, 3.12 ERA) facing off against Michael Lorenzen (4-3, 2.86 ERA), who is in the midst of one of the best years of his career. Severino is 2-2 with a 2.89 ERA in six career appearances against the Rangers, while Lorenzen is 2-1 with a 2.29 ERA against the Mets in 15 career appearances, though only three of those six appearances were starts.
The game will air on SNY, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.
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