Gunnar Henderson Homer Ruins Peterson Gem
Gunnar Henderson hit a go-ahead, pinch-hit, two-run home run off Ryne Stanek in the eighth inning, and the Mets dropped a 3-1 decision Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader in Baltimore.
Henderson was the first batter Stanek faced after David Peterson (seven innings, one run on five hits) gave up a leadoff single to start the eighth. Stanek walked three, allowed a Ramon Laureano sacrifice fly, then gave way to Austin Warren after walking his fourth batter of the inning to reload the bases. Warren got Ramón Urías to pop out to first to end the threat. (Box score)
The Mets (53-40) had their chances, but went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. New York had second and third in the first inning with nobody out and failed to score. (Juan Soto and Pete Alonso struck out, Jesse Winker popped out.) In the third, Alonso grounded out to short with two on and two out. In the fifth, after Soto was intentionally walked with two out, Alonso flew out to right with two on.
After Mark Vientos doubled to lead off the sixth, Ronny Mauricio struck out, Luis Torrens hit a shot to left that Laureano caught with a sliding catch, and Orioles starter Charlie Morton caught Brett Baty looking on an 80 mph, 3-2 curve.
The Mets got their only run when Tyrone Taylor, who came to the plate in a 2-for-42 slump, doubled home Baty in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. Taylor also had a couple of big moments on defense. He threw out Jordan Westburg, trying to go from first to third on a single to center in the fourth inning for his seventh outfield assist, and made a nice running catch in right center, holding on despite colliding with Soto.
In non-Taylor defensive gem news, Brandon Nimmo ended the fourth with a sliding catch of a line drive with a runner on third, and Alonso leaned over the dugout railing to catch a foul pop-up to end the first.
Winker, who returned to the Mets Tuesday after missing two months with an oblique injury, left with back tightness after one at-bat. He winced after popping up. He was replaced at designated hitter by Vientos, who went 2-for-3.
Stats of the Game
Peterson struck out six to bring his career total to 557, passing Steven Matz for 10th all-time in Mets history for strikeouts by a lefty. Morton, age 41, became the oldest starter in Orioles history. The oldest to ever pitch for the Orioles is Jesse Orosco, who was 42 when he threw 32 innings for them in 1999.
Player of the Game
Peterson, who threw 59 of 90 pitches for strikes, lowered his ERA to 3.06. He is the only Met starter to get an out in the seventh inning in the last month.
On Deck
The second half of the split doubleheader is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. ET. Tomoyuki Sugano (6-5, 4.44 ERA) goes for the Orioles. He’s a 35-year-old rookie who pitched for 12 years in the Japanese leagues, going 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA last year for the Yomiuri Giants. The Mets’ starter, at last check, was still TBD, though Justin Hagenman (4.35 ERA in 10.1 IP) is expected to see action. The game will air on SNY.
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