THOR’S GOD-LIKE
Back from illness, Noah dominates
MIAMI — Noah Syndergaard wants the ball. The big righthander is the last of the young aces left from the Mets’ once deep and powerful rotation and they need him to step up into the role of the team’s ace as they chase a playoff berth.
Tuesday night, the 24-year-old showed he is ready and wants the challenge. Pitching on seven days rest after a bout with strep throat and in a game the Mets had to win, Syndergaard struck out eight over six innings, allowing one run on five hits as the Mets beat the Marlins, 12-1, at Marlins Park.
“I am always looking forward to the big games,” Syndergaard said. “They are great atmospheres, the pressure, I thrive on those kinds of scenarios.”
Tuesday was not exactly a great atmosphere, but it was a big game and there was pressure on Syndergaard. After losing in an emotional game as the Marlins played for the first time since the death of their ace Jose Fernandez, the Mets needed to get back on track. Syndergaard said he went out and pitched like Fernandez would have on what he called “Jose’s mound,” in a postgame tweet.
With home runs by Yoenis Cespedes and Jay Bruce and three RBI from Curtis Granderson and Lucas Duda, the Mets (84-74) rebounded from Monday night’s loss and have won four of their last six games.
They at least protected their halfgame lead on the Giants for the first NL wild card, and the home field advantage that goes with it.
“I think we just kind of got back to business as usual,” said Bruce, who has hits in five straight games and hit his sixth homer as a Met. “Hearts are still heavy for the rest of the year and probably for a long time after that, too, but we needed to win this game today and we were able to do it.”
Bruce turned the night around after Syndergaard gave up a run in the first inning. He launched his 31st of the season, a two-run shot to right field in the second. With the right fielder showing encouraging signs and also the return of Lucas Duda to the lineup, the Mets offense is starting to shape up as expected.
“I like where I am right now,” Bruce said. “Hopefully I’ll finish strong and help us get into a good position for the home wild card.”
The Mets needed to see Syndergaard (14-9) step up Tuesday night. He is lined up to pitch Sunday in the season-finale if it is a must-win situation, or the Mets will use him in the wild card game.
Syndergaard, who was pitching on seven days’ rest after a bout with strep throat, struck out eight and held the Marlins to one run on four hits in six innings. “It’s huge, it’s huge,” Terry Collins said. “With where he’s scheduled to pitch right now, we’re trying to look at this weekend to see what we might do rotation wise, he’s gonna still pitch the last game right now. If we need it, he’s the guy.
“I feel real confident the way he pitched tonight, he’ll pitch a good one.”
He has to or the Mets are in trouble. After starting spring with “five aces and Bartolo Colon,” the Mets are left with Syndergaard, Colon and two rookie starters. Steven Matz was officially shut down on Tuesday, expected to get surgery to remove the bone spur in his left elbow next week. He has been out since Aug. 15 with shoulder soreness. Jacob deGrom is out after surgery to move the ulnar nerve in his right elbow and Matt Harvey had season-ending surgery to help the symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. Zack Wheeler never made it back from March 2015 Tommy John surgery.
“Unfortunately we are missing (Jacob) deGrom, (Matt) Harvey and (Steven) Matz, so he’s pushed into a situation,” Warthen said of Syndergaard having to pitch in the win-orgo-home games. “We’ll see how he does. He was pushed into the situation, but he’s doing exactly what we wanted him to do, so I think he’ll be fine.”
Syndergaard went out and proved Tuesday he is ready and excited for the challenge of being the Mets’ ace. He wants the ball.