Hot Foot
May 30, 2021
Opening day (for the Mets) in Philly; their first game with fans in the stands since 2019. Because the Mets started the season late due to their opening series vs. Washington being cancelled, they're 1.5 games behind the Phillies (3-0) at the start of this game.
Jacob DeGrom, who was throwing 100 mph fastballs on the first day of spring training, not only held the Phillies scoreless, he also got a hit in his first at bat. This was the first time in Mets history that a pitcher had the first hit of the season. In his second at bat, he hit a single to left field to drive in a run and make it 2-0.
After Jake struck out Bryce Harper with a 100 mph fastball to end the sixth inning, he had struck out 7, given up just 3 hits, and had retired his last 9 in a row, yet Luis Rojas channeled his inner Mickey Callaway (regarding management of pitchers!) by removing the DeGrominator when he was cruising with just 77 pitches thrown. That strikeout of Harper was the last pitch he would throw in this game.
Miguel Castro came in to start the 7th and pitched a scoreless inning despite giving up a couple of loud outs. In the 8th inning, Trevor May came in for his Mets debut and it did not go well. He could only get one out and left the game with the bases loaded. Aaron Loup, also in his Mets debut, hit Bryce Harper, then gave up a hit, eventually allowing all of May's inherited runners to score (aided by a Guillorme throwing error) plus two more runs for good measure. The score was 5-2 Phillies at the end of the 8th. Thanks Luis!
The Mets staged a small, failed comeback attempt in the top of the ninth. After two outs, singles by Pillar and Lindor (their first Mets hits) led to Conforto batting as the tying run. He hit a line drive to right and Harper got a glove on it but it bounced away. It was ruled a single even though it seemed the game was over until the ball bounced off Harper's glove.
Pillar scored on the play and it was now 5-3 Phillies with Pete Alonso coming up as the go-ahead run. On the first pitch, he hit a long drive to right that was caught in front of the wall by Harper. So instead of Alonso delivering a thrilling come-from-behind go-ahead homer, Mets fans were left asking questions: Why was DeGrom removed after 77 pitches (memories of Mickey)? Why was Dom Smith left out of the lineup (even after the Phillies removed their left-handed starter in the 4th inning). Why are those Kars for Kids commercials so catchy? They remind me of Mickey Callaway!
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The Mets suck! Smith made three errors in this game, and hit into a
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