NEW YORK — June was a tough month for the Mets, and after a 7-19 record, New York is hoping July has better things in store. The Mets got off to a good start on the first day of the month by breaking their three-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Giants on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. It helped that right-hander Justin Verlander gave the Mets length.
“We had a good start to July. We hope to build on that,” said Mets manager Buck Showalter.
Verlander made the difference, pitching seven innings, allowing just one unmerited run and knocking out six batters to earn his third win of the season. He looked like the Verlander of yore in the first six innings, allowing just three baserunners in his first 18 batters.
“Verlander put on a phenomenal game and we weren’t able to score early,” said Giants manager Gabe Kapler. “Historically we do a really good job in the first few innings of games. At the moment we are just a little behind in that regard.”
Verlander said he was working on new game mechanics before the game and the whole time he seemed stuck. Because he threw free and loose, he felt it was his best game of the season.
“It was much better,” he said. “The slider was the best thing I can take with me today. I was a little more in the zone. It wasn’t perfect, but I was able to pitch when I needed to. I felt better than last time. … It’s a big step in the right direction and an attempt to build on that momentum.”
Verlander’s toughest inning came in the seventh when he conceded his only run. With a runner up first, Patrick Bailey hit a groundball to first baseman Pete Alonso, who threw the ball away and attempted to forceout in second. With runners in first and third place, JD Davis came home and scored the Giants’ only run when Thairo Estrada hit a double play.
But the inning didn’t end easy. After the double play, Blake Sabol doubled and Austin Slater walked to put the runners in first and second place. But Brandon Crawford struck to end the threat.
The Mets gave Verlander some needed run support in the third inning by playing a home run derby against Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani. With an out, Francisco Alvarez shot a solo shot over the right field wall and gave New York a 1-0 lead. After Luis Guillorme hit the second inning, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor hit back-to-back home runs. It was the first time the Mets had hit three home runs in an inning since October 4.
For Nimmo, the home run came on the seventh anniversary of his first home run of his career against Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel.
“Put a punctuation mark on the hardest home run of my career so far,” said Nimmo, whose shot had an exit speed of 111.8 mph.
An inning later, Alonso hit a double from Tommy Pham for the fourth run of the game.
“It was huge,” Verlander said. “As a starter you can really attack the zone when these guys have a few runs on the board without really worrying about giving up a solo home run and putting your team behind. It felt great.”
The Mets got off to a good start in July, winning the game they were hoping for in 2023.
“[Saturday’s game] That’s how you create it,” said Nimmo. “Overall it was a well-played game. That’s definitely what this team is made for, only we need more of them in the future.”