Mets sweep doubleheader as Rockies plate two total runs

Game 1: Mets 1, Rockies 0

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Rockies were shut out through seven innings by Marcus Stroman and Edwin Díaz. Germán Márquez pitched well but got the old “Jacob DeGrom treatment” and received no run support whatsoever. In the end, it was a José Peraza solo home run in the third inning that was the difference.

Offense gets shut out, still has not traveled

It wasn’t incredible when the Rockies scored three runs on five hits against the Mets on Monday but it felt like progress compared to their past offensive performances on the road. Tuesday’s three-hit game against Jacob DeGrom and company was more like the road Rockies we know and that unfortunately continued against Marcus Stroman.

Colorado’s offense was shut out by Stroman for six innings and only reached base a total of five times. Second base was only touched twice by the Rockies. This lackluster offensive showing was just the latest chapter in the season-long struggle on the road. The offense has just not traveled at all this year with an away .201 batting average. Before the second game of the doubleheader, it dropped the Rockies to 3-19 on the road.

Another impressive outing for Márquez, reaches 700 career strikeouts

After getting off to a rough start in May, Germán Márquez has now put back-to-back solid performances together. He threw seven shutout innings against the Diamondbacks on Saturday and today threw a complete one-run, six-inning game (strange, I know). It now lowers his ERA to 4.47, which is pretty notable considering it was at 6.21 just a couple weeks ago.

During the game, Germán Márquez reached a major milestone in his career and in Rockies history by earning his 700th career strikeout. He’s only the sixth Rockies pitcher to reach 700.

Fuentes and McMahon lock the corners down

For Rockies fans, there wasn’t a ton to cheer for in this first game but there were a couple of stellar defensive plays from corner infielders Joshua Fuentes and Ryan McMahon.

Fuentes made a difficult double play look easy with some smooth footwork in the first inning to steal what could have been a hit by Francisco Lindor:

Ryan McMahon has been lighting it up both offensively and defensively this season. After making an incredible bare hand play earlier this series, McMahon decided to do it again, this time against Francisco Lindor (rough first game for Lindor):

★ ★ ★

Game 2: Mets 4, Rockies 2

Momentum was on the Mets’ side from the get-go, as Colorado had not scored in 14 innings leading up to first pitch.

The Rockies seized some momentum early, but the Mets answered back and outlasted Antonio Senzatela—and worked through three Colorado relievers in a seven-inning contest.

First-inning walks: Mets evade, Rockies fall victim

The Rockies were blanked in the top of the first despite consecutive walks to Garrett Hampson and Trevor Story to start the game. Colorado’s threat would be silenced by a Ryan McMahon lineout, followed by a C.J. Cron strikeout and Brendan Rodgers flyout.

The Mets would strike a similar tune to start the bottom of the frame: leadoff hitter Jonathan Villar received a free pass to first and would advance to third on a Francisco Lindor single to left. Villar would come around to score on a Billy McKinney double play, and Dominic Smith would end the frame with a groundout.

Second and third-inning: Lucchesi and Senzatela carve

The Rockies and Mets went 12 up, 12 down through the second and third innings. Both Lucchesi and Senzatela collected one strikeout in that span, and only one hit was recorded. It was Villar with a two-out single in the third, but he was out at second trying to stretch it into a double.

Connor Joe’s throw from left field was right on the money:

Joe breaks the scoreless streak

Lucchesi threw 70 pitches this afternoon, the most he has thrown in a single outing this year. (His previous high was 63). The lefty departed with two outs in the fourth after two singles, a flyout and a walk, and was three hitters shy of turning the lineup over a third time.

The Mets brought on right-hander Drew Smith to face Connor Joe, batting in the seventh position. Colorado’s then-17-inning scoreless streak would come to an end:

Joe’s single plated Cron from third; one swing changed the Rockies’ win probability by 18.9 percent.

The probability would immediately drop by 7.5 percent, however, as Elias Díaz filed out with runners on first and third.

Mets bat seven in the fourth

A one-out double by McKinney would open a new threat for the Mets in the fourth inning. Dominic Smith was promptly hit by a pitch after that, and a James McCann walk loaded the bases.

The leverage index spiked to 3.81, the biggest situation of the game to that point.

Patrick Mazeika struck out looking.

The leverage index would then spike even higher, to 4.26.

Jose Peraza singled to left and plated McKinney.

Cameron Maybin would end the inning with a 6-4 groundout, but Senzatela’s day was complete after 67 pitches and a taxing final frame. His final line: 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K.

Bullpen consistency tested

Tyler Kinley had a great showing in the fifth, recording a flyout, groundout and punchout. He hasn’t given up a run in six appearances.

Jordan Sheffield did not have a great showing in the sixth. It was a rarity for a bullpen arm that, before today, held an ERA below two. Sheffield allowed a walk, popout, double, hit-by-pitch, bases-loaded walk, a 5-2 putout at the plate, and one more bases-loaded walk before exiting the game with the bases loaded. He allowed as many runs as he recorded outs, and the Mets held onto a comfortable 4-1 lead upon his exit.

Yency Almonte would emerge from the Citi Field bullpen to extingush the bases-loaded flame that remained. He stranded all three inherited runners with a strikeout.

Ninth inning push: Rockies bring tying run to the plate

Robert Gsellman came on for a Mets save with a three-run cushion. The Rockies were able to trim it to a two-run deficit after Charlie Blackmon was hit by a pitch and scored on a Raimel Tapia single.

Gsellman exited the game after the Tapia base hit. New York brought on Jacob Barnes for the final out; he retired Ryan McMahon on a flyout and collected his second save of the year.

Up Next

The Pittsburgh Pirates currently hold the second-worst wRC+ in baseball, trailing only the Rockies. Both teams will face off at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park for a three-game set, started off by Colorado’s Jon Gray and Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller on Friday night.

Gray has thrown especially well at home this year, and the struggling Pittsburgh offense could help him match those successes on the road. Meanwhile, Keller has a 7.41 ERA on the year and allowed five earned runs to Atlanta in his last start (5 IP).

Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. MDT.