Nimmo Returns as Mets Pound Yankees

 METS 8 - YANKEES 3

Brandon Nimmo hadn't played in a Major League game in 60 days after suffering what turned out to be a small ligament tear in his left index finger. While the Mets have certainly held their own since Nimmo last played in a game May 2, they were more than happy to have him back in the lineup on Saturday against the Yankees in the first game of the Subway Series. 

 Nimmo had three hits and scored two runs as the Mets pounded the Yankees 8-3. 

Nimmo's infield single in the top of the fifth helped jump start a three-run rally for the Amazin's. After Nimmo's single, Francisco Lindor singled to shallow center as the ball dropped in front of Brett Gardner who played too deep on the ball. A batter later, Dom Smith singled to center, driving in Nimmo with the game's first run. 

After a Pete Alonso walk chased Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery from the game, James McCann slashed a base hit to center to keep the conga line moving; Lindor scored. The Mets lead increased to 2-0. Smith would later score on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

An inning later, Nimmo was in the center of it again, as one of three Mets' hitters to single to open the top of the sixth to load the bases for Lindor, who would draw a run-scoring walk. Dom Smith followed with a game-breaking two-run double to left as Jose Peraza and Nimmo scored to make it 6-0. 

Kevin Pillar's two-run single off Michael King later in the frame gave New York an 8-0 advantage. 

On the hill Taijuan Walker pitched brilliantly, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth before Aaron Judge it a solo shot that cut the Mets lead to 8-1. Walker finished the day allowing only two runs on two hits over 5.2 innings of work. He is now 7-3 with 2.44 ERA. 

 

On the flip side, Montgomery struggled. He got himself in and out of a several jams in the first and third innings, but couldn't survive the fifth inning. He was chargned with three runs on six hits over 4.1 innings to take the loss. The Yankees bullpen was equally miserable for New York with Justin Wilson getting charged for five runs. 

Both teams were heading in opposite directions coming into the series, and they sure looked like it on Saturday. The Mets are now six games over .500 while the Bronx Bombers are now only a game over the .500 mark at 41-40. 

The Subway Series continues tomorrow with a day-night double-header.