Stroman pitches Mets past Phils for doubleheader sweep
NEW YORK — Back on the mound two days after an abbreviated start, Marcus Stroman tossed six spotless innings and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 Tuesday night for a doubleheader sweep.
Brandon Nimmo had three hits and three RBIs from the leadoff spot. Jonathan Villar followed up his game-winning single in the opener with a run-scoring double, and Stroman (2-0) outpitched Phillies ace Aaron Nola.
Both games of the singleadmission twinbill, booked to make up Monday night’s rainout at Citi Field, were scheduled for seven innings in keeping with a rules change introduced during the pandemic shortened 2020 season.
In the first game, Pete Alonso and Villar each hit an RBI single in the eighth to give New York a 4-3 victory in extra innings. Dominic Smith socked an early tworun homer for the Mets.
Stroman’s outing Sunday against Miami lasted only nine pitches because the game was suspended due to rain. He tweeted his displeasure, saying the game never should have started and he hated that he would have to wait another five days to pitch again.
Mets manager Luis Rojas initially said Stroman would remain on four days of rest and pitch Friday at Colorado.
After the postponement Monday was announced, however, Rojas reversed course and said Stroman would start the nightcap Tuesday.
Rojas said Stroman at first wanted to recreate his entire between-start regimen, including a bullpen and workouts. But after playing catch Monday, he told his manager his arm would be ready for Tuesday and he was taking the ball in the nightcap to be there for the team.
“That was nice to hear, of course,” Rojas said.
The 5-foot-7 right-hander hopped around excitedly all night, slapping his glove after inducing a pair of inningending double plays and even flipping his bat away after drawing a late walk at the plate.
Stroman was perfect over the first three innings and faced the minimum through
four. He permitted four hits, all singles, and walked none. He struck out three and threw 86 pitches.
Jeurys Familia got three outs to finish the six-hitter.
Villar doubled home a run off Nola (0-1) in the fourth, and Nimmo added a two-run single. Tomas Nido hit his first career triple in the sixth and scored on Nimmo’s single.
With the Mets down a run in the first game, Alonso opened the bottom of the
eighth with a sharp single off Hector Neris (0-1) that scored placement runner Francisco Lindor from second. It was New York’s first hit since the second inning.
Jeff McNeil beat out a potential double-play ball, Michael Conforto walked and James McCann’s infield single loaded the bases with one out.
Villar, who entered as a pinch-runner in the seventh, lofted a full-count pitch to left-center over the head of left fielder Andrew McCutchen, playing shallow in hopes of cutting off the winning run.
“It’s good to see those big hits in those moments,” Rojas said. “You can see the guys’ timing coming together.”
Aided by McCann’s passed ball, the Phillies went ahead 3-2 in the top of the eighth on Didi Gregorius’ two-out infield single. Trevor May (1-1) then struck out Jean Segura with two runners in scoring position and got his first win for the Mets.
Taijuan Walker struck out eight over 41⁄3 innings in his second start with New York, again showing some increased velocity on multiple pitches in his repertoire.