Rich Hill’s Mets Debut Against Blue Jays Was a Success

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Left-handed pitcher Rich Hill, who was traded to the Mets from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday for pitcher Tommy Hunter and Double-A catcher Matt Dyer, made his team debut on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citi Field.

The 41-year-old veteran pitched five innings in his first start with the blue and orange, giving up five hits, three runs, two walks, and striking out one. He threw 62 pitches (39 for strikes) in a successful debut for the Mets.

“Today was a great win and I was happy that I was able to contribute,” said Hill who walked away with a no decision, but delivered a quality outing.

Though Hill gave up three leadoff doubles. He threw five scoreless innings before showing his first signs of struggle in the sixth inning. Hill hit George Springer with a pitch to open the inning before giving up a single to the red-hot Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and walking Marcus Semien before being replaced on the mound by Seth Lugo.

Hill walked away with bases loaded, but was given a standing ovation as he exited the field to the dugout.

Even with allowing so many leadoff runners throughout his outing, Hill has cruising from a pitch-count perspective, throwing just 49 pitches through five scoreless. That’s likely the reason why he was able to bat for himself in the bottom of the fifth with two out and two runners on despite the Mets clinging to just a 1-0 lead at the time. Even after the Blue Jays took a 3-1 lead in the top of the six, Hill and Lugo were bailed out by the offense thanks to a game-tying home run from Pete Alonso and a go-ahead, pinch-hit double from Jeff McNeil.

Luis Rojas spoke on Hill’s debut, stating he was impressed with the southpaw’s first outing with the team. “We are learning him being in the same clubhouse and dugout. He threw the ball really well and I don’t think any situation is going to rattle him. He played a big role to keep this [Blue Jays] lineup quiet two-times around.”

All in all, it was a solid first start for the 41-year-old, and it appears he’ll be an asset to a club that could badly use some depth within the starting rotation right now.

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