Mets Endure Shaky deGrom, Hold Off Marlins

 METS 4 - MARLINS 2 

Jacob deGrom looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable. The two-time Cy Young Award winner who has dazzled as the Mets ace for the better part of three years was having a rare off day. He was missing with his fastball. His change-up didn't have the typical bite, and his slider was just good enough. 

In the top of the second inning, deGrom found himself in a precarious situation. He walked the first two batters to face him before giving up an infield single to Jesus Alvarez. At that point the concern on deGrom's face was too much to bare. Manager Luis Rojas, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and the Mets training staff had to make their way out to the mound to check on deGrom. He was favoring the middle and index fingers on his throwing hand. 

Not a good look. With the bases loaded and one out it looked like deGrom would not be long for this day. But that is why deGrom is the best pitcher in baseball. 

After falling behind 2-0 to Monte Harrison, deGrom struck him out swinging for the second out. Then he got Jonathan Villar to bounce out to second to get of the inning clean. No runs, one hit, three left on base. If there was any turning point in the game, it was that moment. deGrom could have easily given up one or two runs and the Mets would be well on their way to their 10th loss in 16 games. Not the case today. 

deGrom would go five innings for the Mets on Sunday, scattering seven hits, yielding two runs, while striking out six. It's starts like this that make the great pitchers. When they have their worst stuff, they find a way; that was the case for deGrom. 

Offensively the Mets chipped away at Marlins starter Pablo Lopez. Jeff McNeil reached on a fielder's choice in the third to score Andres Gimenez to make it 1-0. Tomas Nido later scored on a throwing error by Miami to take a 2-0 lead. 

Brandon Nimmo tacked onto the lead with a RBI single in the fourth to score Gimenez to make it 3-0. 

 Give a lot of credit to the Mets bullpen on Sunday. Jared Hughes and Dellin Betances pitched shutout innings in relief in the sixth and seventh innings respectively. Then in the eighth, Edwin Diaz withstood two Marlins hits to strikeout the side and get out of huge trouble to preserve the lead for Seth Lugo who nailed down the save. 

The Mets (7-9) welcome the struggling Washington Nationals to Citi Field on Monday for the first of four. The Mets will play every day until a scheduled off day on August 24, and have played a little better after starting the year at 3-7.