Zack strong in possible Citi finale
Zack Wheeler is human — though maybe the Padres did not think so in his last four innings Tuesday night. But being flesh and blood and body parts that injure, Wheeler hears all the outside noise about trades. And he knows every home start could be his last at Citi Field.
“It crossed my mind, I’m not going to lie,” Wheeler said of Tuesday’s start. “But at the same time, you can’t really do anything about it, and you go out there and pitch and try to get a win.”
That’s what he did. So if Tuesday were his last home effort in a Mets uniform, he gave everyone something to consider. Wheeler worked seven innings, surrendered two runs and four hits and got better as the game got longer, retiring the final 12 batters he faced in a 6-3 Mets victory over San Diego.
“He’s being aggressive. His mentality on the mound is, ‘Here you go, hit it,’ ” manager Mickey Callaway said. “When you’re throwing 98 with a 93 mph slider, good breaking ball, split-finger that plays, you’re tough to hit when you get ahead.”
The Mets staked Wheeler (4-6) to leads of 3-0 — courtesy of a first-inning, basesloaded double by catcher Devin Mesoraco — and 5-2 on a Michael Conforto two-run homer. Mesoraco, who also made the key defensive play of the game, was most impressed with his battery mate.
“Ever since I started catching Zack, he’s been good so that’s the only Zack that I know,” Mesoraco said. “I don’t know anything other than, ‘Man, Zack Wheeler is pretty good.’ ”
Wheeler, who has won his past two starts, received a nice second-inning lift from right fielder Jose Bautista, who ran down Freddy Galvis’ drive then doubled off Eric Hosmer, running on the pitch, at first. Then in the third, with the bases loaded and two outs, Wil Myers singled to left. One run scored then Manuel Margot was ruled out at home. Mesoraco threw to third and Carlos Asuaje, who pretty much gave up running, was tagged out. It became important when the play at the plate was reviewed and overturned. Margot was safe, so Asuaje became the third out and it was 3-2 Mets.
“With replay you have to play every ball out, so that was a heads-up play by him to continue the play and get us a big out right there,” Callaway said.
“It was just reaction. I wasn’t 100 percent aware of the rule. But I didn’t know that I got him and I saw the guy standing there so it made sense,” Mesoraco said. From there, Wheeler was perfect. “I had the Tommy John [surgery], out for two seasons I watched a lot of good pitchers pitch. I really concentrated on how they went about their business. They just attacked hitters. Got quick outs and pitched deep into the games,” said Wheeler, who was “in a groove at the end.”