Thanks, in large part, to starters Tylor Megill and Max Scherzer, the New York Mets swept Tuesday’s doubleheader against the tough San Francisco Giants, taking Game 1 with a 5-4 score and Game 2 by winning 3-1.
In the first game, Megill overcame a woeful start and delivered six strong innings (with four earned runs allowed) to give the Mets a chance at the victory.
The nightcap featured an incredibly dominant showing by Scherzer, still very much an ace even at 37. He took a no-hitter into the sixth, but ended up surrendering a single run in seven strong frames, with ten strikeouts to his name.
“It shows you we’re a good ballclub,” Scherzer said to Anthony DiComo, who covers the Mets for MLB.com. Now, the team sports the best record in the Majors at 9-3. “We can compete with the best.”
The Mets have been excellent in the first 12 games
Shortstop Francisco Lindor, much maligned for his subpar opening season in Queens in 2021, had the walkoff hit in the bottom of the tenth in Game 1.
“I don’t remember what we did last year, to be honest,” Lindor said. “But it feels good to be winning this year, for sure.”
Lindor had really struggled last year, but this time, he was marvelous in the spring and that form has carried over to the start of the season. At the moment, after yesterday’s doubleheader, he is hitting .310/.442/.619 with a 208 wRC+, three home runs, and three stolen bases.
Megill’s ERA is at 2.20, while Scherzer’s is at 2.50. Other members of the staff have been brilliant, too: Carlos Carrasco is back to his dominating ways (0.84 ERA), and Chris Bassitt, who came over to the Mets via trade with the Oakland Athletics, has been even better.
“It is different,” said Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo. “It’s a great feeling. I’m just really, really proud of these guys. They grind, grind, grind.”