After a rocky start, the New York Mets were able to bail out former Duke Baseball legend Marcus Stroman in his first start with his new team.
The honeymoon stage between Marcus Stroman and the New York Mets was over very quickly.
In his first start with his new team on Saturday night in Pittsburgh against the Pirates, Stroman allowed four straight hits to start the game after the Mets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning.
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After finally getting an out with the bases still loaded, Stroman walked in a run to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead. He escaped the rest of the inning without further damage and then settled into a groove that fans have become accustomed to seeing this season.
The former Blue Devils was removed from the game in the 5th inning after allowing a single and a walk to two of the first three batters of the inning.
Luis Avilán replaced Stroman and walked a batter to load the bases, which was followed by a hit by pitch to charge another run to Stroman’s line on the night.
In 92 pitches in just 4.1 innings pitch, Stroman allowed seven hits and three runs with two walks and three strikeouts, coming away with a no-decision.
While Stroman exited with a 3-1 deficit on his hands, his new teammates were able to bail him out, something that didn’t happen often in Toronto.
The Mets were able to take a 4-3 lead in the 8th inning, while adding four more runs in the 9th inning, which New York ended up desperately needed, the Mets were able to hold on to a 7-5 win over the Pirates.
With Stroman’s new energy and the lethal starting rotation the Mets have alongside the former Duke Baseball star with Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler, and Steven Matz, fans and players are believing that the Mets can make a serious push for the Second Wild Card spot in the National League.
Winners of nine of its last eleven, the Mets currently sit at 54-56, 4.0 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals for that last Wild Card spot.
Marcus Stroman is slated to get back on the mound for the Mets on August 9 against the Nationals in what would be his home debut as a Met in Citi Field.