POUNDING ROCKS
Offense lifts deGrom, Mets in rout of Colorado
Mets rip Colorado to open 2nd half in style
Any team calling the Mets about Jacob deGrom better be prepared to empty de farm system.
To this point general manager Sandy Alderson said he hasn’t held trade discussions involving the ace right-hander — various reports have indicated the Astros are interested — but made it clear Friday there is no urge on his part to deal deGrom.
“What do we do without Jake deGrom next year?” Alderson said before deGrom handled the Rockies over eight innings in the Mets’ 14-2 victory at Citi Field. “This is not a teardown situation. We are not looking to rebuild. We are looking to make sure we have the nucleus of a competitive team going into next year.
“We wouldn’t completely discount the possibility of a trade of that type because who knows what might be presented? I don’t think enough would be presented for us to bite on that.”
What does deGrom think when he hears buzz the Astros really want him?
“That’s a good baseball team,” deGrom said.
Alderson realizes a surge into playoff contention is unlikely for the Mets (40-47), but acknowledged sweeping Colorado three games would be a small first step in showing a second-half run is possible. The surprising Rockies still lead the Mets by 9 ½ games in the race for the NL’s second wild card.
DeGrom (10-3) continued his recent dominance — he allowed one earned run on four hits over eight innings and struck out 11 — winning a career-best sixth straight start, a stretch in which he has pitched to a 1. 53 ERA. Much of the Mets rotation has been a disappointment, but deGrom and lefty Steven Matz have certainly met expectations.
“We thought we had five of them to start the season, but those No. 1 guys, when we need them they rise up,” manager Terry Collins said. “They are there when you need them most. Jake is on a roll right now and the team is comfortable when he pitches. You know he’s going to get us deep into a game and I think it leads to increased offense.”
T.J. Rivera and Michael Conforto each homered as part of the Mets’ 19-hit attack. Yoenis Cespedes, who entered in a 5-for-40 (.125) slump, finished with four hits in six at-bats.
Conforto, in his return from the All-Star game in Miami, batted leadoff and cleared the left-field fence in the seventh for a threerun homer.
The Mets pounded Jon Gray (2-1) in the third inning, when they scored six runs to take an 8-1 lead. Rivera’s two-run double was the Mets’ biggest hit in the inning, but Jose Reyes — with his second hit in as many innings — brought in two runs with a single. Asdrubal Cabrera also delivered a two-run single. DeGrom’s RBI single accounted for a run in the second, after Lucas Duda had singled leading off and Reyes doubled him to third. Travis d’Arnaud’s RBI ground out brought in the Mets’ first run.
Gerardo Parra stroked an RBI single against deGrom in the f irst inning for an unearned run. But deGrom escaped further damage in an inning he allowed three singles.
In each of his last six starts, deGrom has lasted at least seven innings. And he’s now recorded double digits in strikeouts seven times this season.
DeGrom said his control has been the key to his hot streak.
“I was walking a lot of people early on,” he said. “I have got a better feel for a changeup. I think it’s a little more confidence and throwing a changeup when I need to because I went away from it early.”