HURTS SO GOOD
RED-HOT METS ROUT BUCCOS, BUT LOSE CANO TO STRAINED HAMMY
PITTSBURGH — Here is what the Marcus Stroman trade did for the Mets, according to Mickey Callaway, and it was evident over the past 48 hours — in the clubhouse and on the field.
“It pumped us up, we are ready to make a run at this thing,’’ Callaway told The Post.
Yes, a run at the postseason, the 55-56 Mets.
“I think when that happened we saw some energy in t he cl ubhouse,’’ Callaway added. “Everybody was excited we didn’t get rid of anybody and we added.’’
Jason Vargas was deleted to create room in the rotation for Stroman and to save some cash — after all these are the Mets.
That “anybody’’ who was not traded was Noah Syndergaard. And on Sunday, Thor was spectacular again, completely shutting down the pitiful Pirates in the Mets’ 13-2 wipeout of the Bucs at PNC Park. The Mets won for the ninth time in 10 games to move within one game of .500 — the first step to relevancy — and within three games of the NL’s second wild-card spot.
Syndergaard improved to 8-5, allowed one run over seven innings on three hits as he pitched to contact, striking out just three. He has gone at least seven innings in five straight starts for the first time in his career.
Along the way he has dropped his ERA from 4.68 to 3.96.
He also collected two hits and scored two runs. The entire Pirates team only got one more hit than Syndergaard over those seven innings.
“I’m so glad we didn’t trade Noah,’’ said Todd Frazier, who picked up three hits and drove in three runs in the Mets’ 16-hit attack. “He’s a No. 1 or a No. 2. He’s throwing 96 to 100 every game, nasty slider stuff. We love playing behind him. I’m happy he’s here now.’’
He’s not alone. Callaway feels the same way.
But the day wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Callaway & Co. Robinson Cano, who was finally getting hot, left the game in the fourth when he pulled up lame with a strained left hamstring. He was headed to second on what was to be his third double of the day, stopped and was tagged out.
The offensive explosion started
early with Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis homering in the first inning off Joe Musgrove. Davis’ blast hit the railing on the fourth ramp in left and was measured at 449 feet.
Even with the Cano injury, the Mets are starting to believe because the rotation is in gear.
Mets starters are 11-3 since the break and now Stroman is aboard. Syndergaard is becoming a rock in the rotation.
Once the Mets jumped on top early, Syndergaard had no hesitation to “throw heaters in there.’’ With a doubleheader Monday against the Marlins at Citi Field, Syndergaard tried to go as deep as possible but admitted he was “laboring’’ a bit because “it was hot as hell out there.” So what’s the difference in Syndergaard? “At the break,’’ Callaway said, “we really started focusing on getting the ball over the plate and down, get some easy outs and that is what he’s been doing.’’
“It was awesome,’’ Syndergaard said of the 5-1 road trip. “The confidence we have going back to the city, it’s going to be really interesting and we’re going to have a lot of fun doing it.’’
The vibe has changed in the clubhouse because the Mets are stringing wins together and the rotation is starting to live up to expectations, and the bullpen has not messed up as many games. But after the Marlins come the Nationals and Braves, so the Mets have to show they can beat the good teams too before they can be taken seriously.
“It’s contagious,’’ Syndergaard said of the positive feelings within the team. “There is a positive energy coming through this clubhouse and we are going to run with it. It’s kind of snowballed right now in terms of the positive energy.’’
“Fantastic,’’ was Callaway’s review of Syndergaard. “Huge to be efficient with his [91] pitches. Not o n ly did he save t he bull pen, everybody is going to be available for the doubleheader because he pitched deep into the game.’’
By being efficient, Callaway said Syndergaard, “can go and be the workhorse we need him to be the rest of the way.’’
More Thor.