The New York Mets get two needed wins in Wednesday double header

new york yankees, new york mets, jacob degrom
Aug 31, 2022; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) prepares to pitch in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Just Tuesday night, following three consecutive losses to the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates, there was reason to panic for the New York Mets. Their division lead on the Atlanta Braves evaporated as the two teams stood tied at the top.

Yesterday, with Jacob deGrom and Chris Bassitt, the Mets had to take two against one of the worst teams in baseball.

The Mets did just that.

deGrom and Bassitt allow for one run combined:

The excellence of deGrom and Bassitt led yesterday’s day-night doubleheader sweep. Combined, the two allowed just one run to be scored in 14 innings pitched.

Bassitt is now up to 13-7 on the year with a 3.24 ERA. In now seven starts, deGrom is 5-1 with a 1.66 ERA. Aside from his first start, the most an opponent has scored for a game is just three runs.

Both starters went seven innings Wednesday. deGrom threw 91 pitches, had eight strikeouts, three hits, and a walk allowed in his scoreless seven. Bassitt allowed one run over seven innings, throwing 101 pitches. He allowed only five hits and one walk. Most impressively, Bassitt recorded 10 strikeouts in yesterday afternoon’s needed victory.

As a result of these two terrific starts, the Mets utilized their bullpen at a minimum on a day that had two games scheduled. Adam Ottavino threw just 11 pitches, 19 for Alex Claudio, and Seth Lugo threw 32, but it was over two scoreless innings. Now, with a day off, they should be well rested for the series in Miami with the Marlins.

Mets bats finally pick it up:

What the Mets have needed more than anything is at least some quality performances from their lineup. Yesterday, the Mets scored 15 runs in the two games, with five in the first and 10 in the second. They had a combined 27 hits, with 10 in the first game and 17 in the second.

Pete Alonso had two hits in both games, a day he needed to have.

In the second game last night, Francisco Lindor had two hits, three RBIs, and a walk. Lindor now has 89 runs batted in (tied for ninth in baseball).

Eduardo Escobar has been red hot at the plate as of late. He totaled a whopping six hits yesterday. Escobar had four in game two of the day. In game one, he hit a solo homer. Escobar drove in a run in each game.

Tyler Naquin picked it up in a big way yesterday. He had two hits in each game. Naquin drove in four runs, three of them on a home run in the afternoon game.

Jeff McNeil, who batted cleanup yesterday, had three hits in the second game with two runs batted in.

Brandon Nimmo had two hits in game one. He scored a run in each game. Nimmo also had an RBI last night.

Overall, this was the type of day the Mets desperately needed to have. They are now 87-51 with a half-game lead in the division. The Mets must take this series with the 55-80 Marlins this weekend.