The Mets got a strong first MLB start at short from Andres Gimenez, but the bullpen couldn't hold on to a win for Jacob deGrom, as the Red Sox came away with a 6-5 win. >> Box score
Seven things to know from Wednesday's game
1. For the second straight start, deGrom came out of the gates throwing gas, reaching 101 MPH with his fastball to Andrew Benintendi, the first hitter of the game.
DeGrom cruised through the first three innings, but the Red Sox got to him in the fourth, as Rafael Devers and Mitch Moreland both doubled to bring in a run. The run broke a string of 31.0 scoreless innings for deGrom, tied for the third best streak in team history. DeGrom was then charged with two wild pitches (though Rene Rivera didn’t have his best inning behind the plate), allowing Moreland to score and give Boston a 2-1 lead.
As the night went on, deGrom didn’t seem to have his best stuff, but nonetheless he was able to work his way through six innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out four. DeGrom’s season ERA stands at 1.64 through his first two starts.
2. Making his first start as a big leaguer, Gimenez lined a single into left-center field in the bottom of the second inning for his first major league hit. Unfortunately, the rookie was subsequently picked off first base by Nathan Eovaldi.
But Gimenez struck again later in the game in a big spot. Tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth with two outs, Gimenez ripped an RBI triple to center field to score Robinson Cano. Not only was it Gimenez’s first career extra-base hit, but it also put deGrom in line for a win (at least for the time being).
3. The Mets got some good at-bats in early off Eovaldi in the first, loading the bases on three straight singles from Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, and Michael Conforto. Dominic Smith would then hit into a fielder’s choice to score the Mets’ first run of the game.
4. Another good sign for the Mets on Wednesday night was Alonso’s bat. After starting the season just 2-for-20, Alonso went 4-for-4 and was also hit by a pitch.
5. Following deGrom’s six innings, the Mets turned the ball over to Seth Lugo in the seventh, but Lugo allowed a solo home run to Christian Vazquez to tie the game and take the win away from deGrom.
Justin Wilson then had the eighth inning for the Mets, and it was a bit of an adventure. After a single, a walk, and a sac bunt, the Mets intentionally loaded the bases with nobody out. Wilson then struck out Devers, but a Moreland slow dribbler to third couldn't be bare-handed by McNeil, allowing the go-ahead run to score. Vazquez then scored two more on a base hit to right to extend the lead to 6-3.
It was an uncharacteristic night for Wilson, who hadn't allowed a run in three other appearances.
6. A pair of Mets hit solo home runs. Batting out of the leadoff spot, Brandon Nimmo blasted his first home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth, depositing a 3-1 fastball over the wall in right to tie the game 2-2. With the Mets down 6-3 in the eighth, Yoenis Cespedes crushed his second home run of the season, slamming a fastball over the wall in left off Matt Barnes.
7. With the Mets down by two runs in the ninth, Nimmo and McNeil both walked to bring the winning run to the plate. Alonso then somehow blooped a ball into fair territory over the first base bag to load the bases with nobody out. With one out, J.D. Davis beat out an infield single to make it a 6-5 game and bring Cespedes to the plate. With the stage set for the slugger, Cespedes went down swinging, and Cano lined out to end the game.
What's Next
The Mets and Red Sox will finish up their four-game home-and-home set on Thursday at Citi Field. Steven Matz will take the ball against fellow lefty Martin Perez, with first pitch set for 7:07 p.m.