Jacob deGrom meant business on Saturday.
He's still looking for his first-career regular season win against the Los Angeles Dodgers as he didn't get the decision, but that hardly mattered. He was the winner in the Mets' 3-0 win against the Dodgers at Citi Field.
But at 101 pitches, deGrom was yanked from the game after seven innings.
A lot of pitches? Yes. But deGrom could've certainly gone longer. Instead, Mets manager Mickey Callaway pulled deGrom from the game after seven innings.
Following the win, Callaway and deGrom described open communication as the reason why.
"The gas tank was empty at that point," Callaway said. "He was just empty."
Video: WATCH: Mets pitching coach Phil Regan on deGrom, Lugo
DeGrom confirmed. Did he want the ball? Yes, but he decided leaving at that point was what was best for his team.
"Yeah, that's kind of how I was feeling," deGrom said when asked to confirm Callaway's gassed comment. "That seventh inning took a bit out of me. Had some stressful pitches in that inning. Close ball game, had throw 101 pitches, they kind of asked me and I said I'm wearing down a bit."
"Usually I'm ready to go [longer]. I noticed I was starting to get tired, even in that inning I was leaving some pitches up," deGrom added. "I noticed my arm was dragging a little bit. So when they asked, I was kind of honest with them there."
When it was all said and done, in his seven frames, deGrom dominated. He didn't get the win but he only allowed three hits with eight strikeouts. DeGrom also saved his best for last. With back-to-back singles by Corey Seager and AJ Pollock in the seventh, deGrom stepped up neutralized the threat by striking out Gavin Lux to end the two-out rally there.
Callaway acknowledged the Cy Young caliber performance.
"To get seven inning against them? That's a tough lineup," Callaway said.
After deGrom, Seth Lugo struck out the side in the eighth and Rajai Davis pinched hit for Lugo in the eighth inning, leading to the game-winning double. Justin Wilson then put down the Dodgers in the final frame, helping keep the Mets in the thick of things in the National League Wild Card race.
That open, honest, chat could be a big reason why.