The Subway Series seems to bring out the best in the Mets when they go up against their cross-town rival Yankees, and this series is no different and now the younger Mets get to join in on the fun.
Travis d’Arnaud is the catcher the Mets hope will lead their pitching staff to greatness, and also use his bat to come up with big hits along the way, and Monday night he took a step in that direction. With the Mets trailing 4-1 in the top of the 5th inning, d’Aranud hit his third home run on the season over the right field wall to pull the Mets within two runs, making the score 4-2. D’Arnaud would finish the game 1 for 3, with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk.
Eric Campbell, who debuted with the Mets against the Phillies on Saturday, and recorded his first major league base hit on Sunday, scored his first major league run on Monday against the Yankees. With one out and the Mets down 7-6 in the top of the eighth, Campbell, pinch hitting for designated hitter Bobby Abreu, hit a double to left field and then scored on Lucas Duda‘s broken bat bloop single to tie the game at 7-7. Campbell remained in the game as the DH and finished 1 for 2.
Jenrry Mejia, who was taken out of the Mets rotation on Monday, in favor of the impending debut of starter Rafael Montero, made his first relief appearance this season against the Yankees and came up big. In the bottom of the seventh, with a runner on second and two outs, Mejia came in and replaced Scott Rice and quickly struck out Rafael Soriano swinging. In the bottom of the eighth, and after the Mets rallied to take the lead 9-7 in the top half of the inning, Mejia pitched out of trouble and once again ended the inning on a strike out as Brett Gardner was his next victim. He earned his fourth win against no losses, allowing no runs, on two hits with two key strikeouts.
With the Mets recording their fifth straight victory against the Yankees dating back to their 2013 Subway Series sweep, the young Mets were key contributors in Monday’s victory. With three more games left, the team looks to add to their win total when Zack Wheeler, who will face the Yankees for the first time in his career, takes the mound in Game two at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, looking for his second win in 2014.
Jacob deGrom, who at 4-0, was the best pitcher for Las Vegas so far this season, has been promoted from Vegas and will join the Mets bullpen in the Bronx on Tuesday and Game three will continue with the youth movement as Rafael Montero will make his major league debut on Wednesday when the Subway Series shifts over to Citi Field.
An exciting week so far for the Mets rookies, and hopefully the youth movement will bring winning baseball back to Queens.
(Featured Photo by MetsMinors.net)
(Content Photo Credit: Brad Barr)
