Mets move to 2-0 after bats help out deGrom

A big day offensively for veterans Asdrubal Cabrera, Todd Fraizer and Yoenis Cespedes propelled New York to a 6-2 victory over the Cardinals, and the club’s first 2-0 start in more than five seasons.

On a day where plenty of focus was on Jacob deGrom’s first start of the season, the Mets gave their star pitcher more than enough run support with a barrage of power and clutch hitting against Cardinals righty Michael Wacha.

It didn’t take the Mets long to set the tone for the day. In the lead-off spot for the first time this year, Cabrera wacked a Wacha fastball to right on a 3-2 count to open the bottom half of the first. After Cespedes walked and Jay Bruce grounded into a Fielder’s Choice.

With Bruce and Cespedes aboard, Todd Fraizer took the first pitch he saw from Wacha and lined it down the right field line for a two-run double.

Even when the Cardinals scratched out a run on a Jose Martinez RBI single in the top half of the fourth inning, New York quickly responded when Travis d’Arnaud deposited Wacha’s 3-2 fastball into the left field bleachers for his first homer of the year to make it 3-1.

An inning later, Cespedes hit his first homer of the year to push the Mets lead to 4-1.

As for deGrom he was not his best on Saturday. Mickey Callaway said afterwards that deGrom was spinning off on his some of his pitches, meaning he struggled to release his pitches with accuracy.

Still, an off day for deGrom was good enough for the Mets. Over 5.2 innings of work, deGrom gave up only one run on four hits, and struck out seven Cardinal hitters. 

One of the key moments of the game came in the top of the sixth inning when Callaway removed deGrom with a runner in scoring position and two out for reliever Robert Gsellman.

As a former starter, this was a huge test for Gsellman to see how he would do in relief for the second straight game and he passed the test. After falling behind 3-1 to Jose Martinez, Gsellman came back to strikeout Martinez on a letter high fastball to get out of the jam.

In the top of the seventh, Gsellman got into some trouble, giving up base hits to Yadier Molina and Paul DeJong. Mickey Callaway once again was tested with his management of the bullpen, and once again he came up golden. He called upon Anthony Swarzak, who struck out Greg Garcia and jammed Dexter Fowler into an inning ending fly out.

The Mets would tack on a couple of runs late, one on a sac fly by Fraizer for his third RBI of the afternoon. The final run of the day came on a double by Cabrera for his first RBI of the season.

NOTES: Swarzak left the game in the top of the eighth inning after walking Jose Martinez. Word is Swarzak has a sore left oblique muscle. The severity of the injury is unknown. The righty will undergo further evaluation before a DL stint is determined if needed.

TOMORROW: The Mets give the ball to Steven Matz on Sunday afternoon. This is a big start for Matz, who is coming off a rocky Spring Training and a rough couple of seasons where he has failed to stay healthy. Matz is looking to show Mickey Callaway and company that he is here to stay in the Mets rotation. Matz will go up against Luke Weaver who won seven games as a rookie last season.