Jacob deGrom pitched eight strong innings and Jose Bautista capped it off with a walk-off grand slam to power the Mets to a 5-1 series-opening victory over the Rays on Friday night at Citi Field.
For a full box score of the game, click here.
Things you should know about tonight's game...
1) The Mets had generated just one run on offense before Bautista's bases-loaded blast to deep left field in the ninth inning. Asdrubal Cabrera's RBI single in the third inning gave the Mets a short-lived 1-0 advantage before the Rays tied it up in the fifth, and Mets' bats largely went silent for the next three innings. The Mets went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position until Bautista's home run.
2) Jacob deGrom allowed just one run on four hits in eight solid innings and left the game with the Mets and Rays locked in a 1-1 tie. He struck out eight batters and walked one, with his only blemish being Willy Adames' solo home run in the fifth inning. It was the second time in four outings that deGrom limited his opponent to one earned run in eight innings. He has completed eight innings in three of his last six starts.
3) After deGrom's night was done, the Rays threatened to score in the top of the ninth against Jeurys Familia, who walked Wilson Ramos, allowed a single to Joey Wendle, and hit a batter. Flores threw out Hunter Wood at home for a key second out and Familia struck out Willy Adames to escape the jam.
News and notes...
The Mets now have four walk-off wins this season... Bautista notched his sixth career grand slam and sixth walk-off RBI.
Cabrera is hitting .348 in his last 16 games... He picked up his 49th RBI of the season on Friday night.
DeGrom lowered his ERA to 1.79 with Friday night's eight-inning effort. He has not allowed more than three runs in 15 consecutive starts, which is the longest such streak by a Mets starter in one season since Dwight Gooden completed the feat with 24 straight outings.
What's next...
The Mets and Rays will continue their series on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. Blake Snell will get the start for the Rays, while Steven Matz will pitch for the Mets.