AN AMAZIN’ WIN!
After Niese hurt in first, rook Gsellman enters to save day for Mets:
ST. LOUIS — For the second time in as many days the Mets had to put one of their starters on the disabled list. Jon Niese couldn’t get out of the first inning Tuesday night, suffering shooting pain in his left knee and leaving the Mets and their already stretched bullpen to fend for themselves. They did just fine. Robert Gsellman made his major league debut with 3.2 scoreless innings in emergency relief as the bullpen bent but did not break and the lineup carried the Mets to a 7-4 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. It was a big win for the Mets (63-62), who had not won three straight games since they won five straight from June 30-July 4. They are chasing the Cardinals (66-58) for the second wild card spot, gaining a game to move 3.5 behind them. Niese, who was only in the rotation because of all the injuries to Met starters, was placed on the disabled list after the game.
“I’ve got to get it fixed, I just can’t keep going out there like that,” said Niese, who has been dealing with the knee issue since June when he was with the Pirates. “There is a lot of pain, I am altering my mechanics, not able to stay behind each pitch, not able to locate and just really not helping myself out or the team.
“I can’t compete out there when I am hurt.”
Monday, the Mets put Steven Matz on the DL with left shoulder tightness, but they are hopeful he will be able to rejoin the rotation on Tuesday.
With the Mets already missing Matt Harvey (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) and Zack Wheeler not likely to make his return from 2015 Tommy John surgery this season, the Mets pitching looks rather flimsly.
Gsellman provided welcome relief, at least for one night, and put his name in the mix for another start.
“He’s been doing that in Triple-A, he’s here, he’s in that spot. There’s a good shot if we disabled Jon he slips right in there,” Collins said.
The right-hander allowed two inherited runners to score in the first inning, surrendering an RBI double to the first batter he faced, Yadier Molina, and then giving up an RBI groundout that tied the score at 3-3.
But he settled down after that, giving up just one more hit over the next three innings.
Performing under such stress impressed Collins. “That’s a tough spot even for a veteran,” Collins said. “They have always talked about his stuff being there. I was very impressed that he came in and threw strikes for the most part and kept us in the game. He did a great job.”
Gsellman had about five minutes to warm up as Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen suspected Niese was hurting after the second batter he faced.
“It was my first time ever coming out of the bullpen, so it felt kind of awkward, but I still had to take the mound the same way,” Gsellman said. “I felt I was starting the game again all over, try to make some pitches.”
For the Mets, it was a very unusual win in that the lineup picked up the pitching. The Mets, who have the worst offense in the majors with runners in scoring position, went 5-for-10 with RISP Tuesday night.
They had two homers, extending their streak to nine straight games with a home run. Flores’ blast put the Mets ahead 3-0 in the first inning. The Mets got RBI hits from Jose Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera to reclaim command in the second before Justin Ruggiano connected with a solo blast in the fourth.
Travis d’Arnaud got the second inning started with a one-out single. He took second on Gsellman’s sacrifice and scored on Reyes’ single. The Mets third baseman scored on Cabrera’s double. Gsellman and the Mets didn’t look back.
“I just had to take a couple of deep breaths, realize where I was and then it kicked in and I had fun,” Gsellman said.