The New York Mets are starting to come alive in May, having won 10 of 15 games and taking the final two games of the Subway Series to steal it from the New York Yankees over the weekend.
After the teams exchanged three-run victories in Game 1 and Game 2, the Yankees exploded with a four-run sixth inning to take a commanding 5-1 lead. The Mets battled back with two in the bottom of the sixth, but the Bronx Bombers added another in the seventh to go up 6-3.
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Down to its last out, the Mets had runners on first and second with outfielder Tyrone Taylor coming to the plate. Citi Field was buzzing at this point, but the fans erupted when Taylor sent the first pitch he saw deep to left field for a game-tying three-run home run.
After right-hander Devin Williams pitched a scoreless 10th, rookie outfielder Carson Benge hit a dribbler up the middle that caused the Yankees’ middle infield to collide, allowing the winning run to score. It was the rookie’s second career walk-off, with both coming in the same week.
Mets ace right-hander struggled with command, walking six batters and allowing three runs on two hits with four strikeouts in five innings. Yankees young righty Elmer Rodriguez threw 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on five hits and one walk while striking out one.
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After the thrilling series win, the Mets are a half-game behind the Miami Marlins for fourth place in the National League East and 2.5 games behind the Washington Nationals, which host the Mets for an important four-game series beginning Monday.
The series opener will consist of a pitching matchup between Mets right-hander Christian Scott and Nationals righty Jake Irvin.
Scott has made four starts for New York this season and after walking five in his short season debut, he hasn’t allowed more than two in a game in 14.1 innings since. He hasn’t factored into a decision and carries a 3.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through 15.2 innings.
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In Scott’s last outing, he threw 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks with five punchouts against the Detroit Tigers. He has a 19-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last three starts.
Irvin has had trouble consistently giving his team a chance to win, and his 1-4 record with a 5.91 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through nine starts (42.2 innings) paints the picture.
The Cincinnati Reds roughed him up last week, scoring six runs (five earned) on four hits and four walks in three innings. Despite his poor start, the Nationals managed to win the game in extra innings.
First pitch is at 6:45 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
