Rivera provides big burst at first
Take your time, Lucas Duda. T.J. Rivera is handling first base just fine.
As Duda works his way back from a hyperextended left elbow, Rivera is supplying more than enough offense while handling first base more than capably. He continued to mash Friday night, driving in three runs with a pair of extra-base hits in the Mets’ come-from-behind 8-7 victory over the Marlins.
“He’s dangerous, he swings the bat. He’s aggressive. Is it kind of against some of the stuff [we believe in]? Yeah, but that’s who he is,” manager Terry Collins said. “Any place he’s ever played that’s what you hear about him. When you do that, you can do damage.”
Rivera, an undrafted Bronx native who finally reached the majors after six years in the minors last summer, had the biggest of the Mets’ six hits in their six-run seventh inning, a ringing double down the leftfield line to pull them even at seven. Against side-arming right-hander Brad Ziegler, Rivera jumped on the first pitch.
“It’s a great feeling to know you came through in a situation the team needed you,” Rivera said.
He gave the Mets the lead in the first, hammering a Tom Koehler 94 mph fastball over the wall in left for his first home run of the year.
Since Yoenis Cespedes was placed on the disabled list on April 28 and Jay Bruce was moved back to the outfield, giving Rivera the first base job, he has hit safely in six of seven starts while producing four multi-hit games.
It might not be a coincidence the Mets are in the midst of their best offensive stretch of the season, averaging 7.8 runs per game since Rivera was given the job. They have won five of their last seven games in that span, despite horrific starting pitching and shaky relief work.
Rivera gave the Mets a lift last year in their run to the wild card despite numerous crippling injuries, batting .333 with 16 RBIs and a .821 OPS in 105 at-bats.
Terry Collins had to forget every pitch he had ever seen. He had to pretend the past didn’t matter.
The 67-year-old manager spoke with youthful optimism Friday afternoon, discussing Rafael Montero’s first start of the season as if the right-hander was someone people were still curious to see throw.
“I’m kind of excited to see how it goes because I know his stuff is good enough,” Collins said. “He’s got that ability and now we just got to get it out of him.”
How did it go? Exactly as you might expect — ugly, tedious and uninspiring.
Montero made the Mets once again wonder if they’ll ever get “it” out of the former highly-regarded prospect. The 26-year-old lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs in the Mets’ 8-7 win over the Marlins at Citi Field.
Montero, who was knocked around in six appearances out of the bullpen this season, was making his first start since Sept. 12 — in which he was pulled after 1 2/3 innings — and failed to give the franchise any reason to believe another night would be different. Struggling with command from the first inning, Montero — whose only win in the majors came on Sept. 10, 2014 —allowed seven hits, three walks, and hit one batter, throwing 90 pitches (59 strikes). His ERA ballooned to 10.45.
“I’m trying not to let that frustrate me,” Montero said. “I just know I have to come back next time and do a better job.”
Even after another wasted opportunity, it appears there will be a next time, because of the numerous injuries in the Mets’ rotation.
“If it’s not him, I don’t know who it’ll be,” Collins said. “I don’t know who would fill that spot. We gotta try to get him ready.”
Asdrubal Cabrera was kept out of the starting lineup because of ongoing soreness in his knee, but the shortstop entered the game in the seventh inning, and delivered an RBI pinch-hit single.
“His legs are pretty stiff from the last couple of games,” Collins said before facing the Marlins. “Unfortunately, he’s beaten himself up a little bit. … [His] legs are getting tired.”
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson was in Port St. Lucie on Friday, evaluating the progress of Yoenis Cespedes, Steven Matz and Seth Lugo. Collins said there is still no timetable for Cespedes’ return from a hamstring injury.
With Travis d’Arnaud returning to the disabled list, Rene Rivera started at catcher Friday and drove in a run. Kevin Plawecki will be behind the plate Saturday. and Rivera will catch Sunday’s day game, but Collins said he hasn’t made a decision about his plans for the position beyond the weekend.