The Mets shut out the Atlanta Braves 1-0 on Friday to secure the Opening Day win. >> Box Score
Six things to know from Friday's game
1. Jacob deGrom came out of the gates firing, blazing 99 MPH fastballs past leadoff hitter Ronald Acuna Jr. for his first strikeout of the game. He topped out at 100 MPH in the first inning, showing no ill effects of that back tightness that hampered him earlier in summer camp.
The goal for deGrom was to be around 85 pitches, and he found himself at 72 pitches through five easy frames. But the Mets decided to not have deGrom start another inning in fear of overextending him in his first start. The ace finished his afternoon with 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out eight Braves, making it look effortless at times.
2. But as good as deGrom was, the lack of run support that’s followed him the last few seasons reared its ugly head again on Friday, as the Mets’ offense couldn’t figure out Braves starter Mike Soroka, who went 6.0 innings and allowed just four hits. The Mets made some solid contact off the right-hander but weren’t able to push across a run.
3. Playing in his first regular season game since July 20, 2018, Yoenis Cespedes provided an incredible moment in the bottom of the seventh inning. With the game still scoreless, Cespedes absolutely demolished a fastball to left for a solo home run, giving the Mets the lead. In hist first game in 734 days, Cespedes showed just how valuable he can be in this Mets lineup.
4. Jeff McNeil hit the ball hard almost every time he was up, but he ran into some tough-luck outs. In the first, with Brandon Nimmo on first base, McNeil scorched a ball that was picked out of the air by Freddie Freeman for an unassisted double play. Then in the sixth, with Amed Rosario on, McNeil slashed a ball into the left-center gap that Ender Inciarte was able to track down on a great play.
5. After pitching a scoreless sixth, Seth Lugo faced a bit of a jam in the seventh. Following a Marcell Ozuna double and passed ball on Wilson Ramos, the Braves had the go-ahead run at third with one out. But Lugo was able to force a groundout and get Austin Riley looking to end the frame.
6. Following Lugo's two scoreless innings, Justin Wilson worked a scoreless eighth, which set the stage for Edwin Diaz to pitch the ninth. Protecting a 1-0 lead, Diaz allowed a one-out walk to Freeman, but then got Ozuna looking at a fastball for the second out. Diaz then struck out Matt Adams with a slider to end the game and earn the save.
What’s Next?
The Mets and Braves face off again on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. It will be battle of lefties as Steven Matz takes on Max Fried.
