Nothing Luis Guillorme Could Do
When Michael Conforto drove home Francisco Lindor in the top of the first, it wasn’t hyperbolic to think it was game over. Jacob deGrom was on the mound, and one run is all he needs.
That was except for tonight. In inexplicable fashion, deGrom surrendered more runs than he had in either the month of April or May.
Somehow Ehire Adrianza led off the bottom of the first with a triple. After he was singled home, to the astonishment of everyone, Austin Riley homered off of deGrom making it a 3-1 game.
"I gotta tip my hat to Riley over there…I said to James 'how did he hit that?'"
Jacob deGrom discusses Austin Riley's home run in the 1st inning pic.twitter.com/RfISBfugw4
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 2, 2021
At that moment, deGrom’s ERA finally creeped over 1.00. It didn’t stay that way for long, even on a night where deGrom’s velocity occasionally (and purposefully?) dipped.
From that point, deGrom was a man on a mission. He’d put up six scoreless after that recording 12 of his 14 strikeouts. Fortunately, he’d get a no decision for his effort.
For that, he can pretty much thank only Dominic Smith. While the Mets offense was sputtering again, Smith had a two home run game sending this guy tied into the bottom of the ninth.
No doubt Dom. ?@TheRealSmith2_ | #LGM pic.twitter.com/0IvYR7eVdq
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 2, 2021
Smith vs. Smith.
DOM WINS THIS ROUND! ☄️ pic.twitter.com/d9AzSNqkLF
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 2, 2021
Luis Rojas tabbed Seth Lugo to pitch the inning. The decision was the right one, but sometimes the right decisions don’t work. For Lugo, the problems started when he threw away a ball on a ball hit by Guillermo Heredia. Just like that, it was a single and an error putting the leadoff man on second.
A Pablo Sandoval fielder’s choice put Heredia on third, and Lugo struck out Kevan Smith. After intentionally walking Ronald Acuña, Lugo faced Ender Inciarte. Inciarte battled, and the umpire completely missed the 3-2 pitch meaning the bases were loaded instead of the inning being over.
That brought Freddie Freeman to the plate. There was some second guessing as to why Lugo instead of Aaron Loup here, but Lugo is the team’s best reliever, and he gets LHB out. If not for bad luck, Lugo gets out of the inning.
Bottom of the 9th, two outs, tie ballgame..
Take it away, @FreddieFreeman5!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/THoG0HLgmT
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 2, 2021
If it doesn’t hit Lugo’s foot, it goes to the 10th. There were many saying Luis Guillorme should’ve gone to third, but given how he was heading away from the base, and it was Acuña running, he’s not beating him to the bag. Really, the throw was the only play.
Said another way, once it hit Lugo, the game was over. It’s shouldn’t have come to that with the umpire blowing a call in the Inciarte AB. More than that, the Mets needed someone other than Smith hitting.