Mets win thanks to deGrom and Conforto
New York — Jacob deGrom matched a career high with 13 strikeouts, Michael Conforto went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and the New York Mets beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Friday night. Wilmer Flores drove in one run and scored another to help the Mets win a series opener between struggling teams. Both bolted to fast starts this season only to sputter lately.
After an abbreviated outing last weekend in his return from the disabled list, deGrom (4-0) threw seven dominant innings this time and has won his first four decisions in a season for the first time. His career-best scoreless streak of 24 1/3 innings was snapped when Jake Lamb, just back from a shoulder injury, hit an RBI double in the sixth.
Lamb, however, was thrown out stretching at third for the second out of the inning.
Slumping slugger Paul Goldschmidt fanned all four times up against deGrom, who gave up six hits and walked none. The right-hander missed a turn with a hyperextended right elbow before returning Sunday in Philadelphia, only to be removed as a precaution after one inning because it took him 45 pitches to get through the first. Philadelphia fouled off 20 pitches and deGrom issued three walks but did not permit a run.
Robert Gsellman worked a perfect eighth and Jeurys Familia struck out the side in the ninth for his 12th save.
It was the third time deGrom has whiffed 13 in a regular-season game. He also did it during the 2015 playoffs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Conforto, who equaled his career high for hits with four singles, had a two-out RBI single in the first inning and another in the fifth. Both came off starter Zack Godley (4-3), who allowed three runs — one earned — four hits in six innings.
Arizona, which still leads the NL West, has dropped eight of nine. The Diamondbacks opened a nine-game road trip.
Flores had an RBI groundout in the first after a costly error by Arizona second baseman Daniel Descalso. Flores also doubled and scored on Conforto's single in the fifth.
Trainer's room
Diamondbacks: RHP Shelby Miller (Tommy John surgery) made his second start at extended spring training Thursday, allowing two runs and two hits with seven strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. He threw 63 pitches, 43 for strikes. His next step is to get up to about 75 pitches and five innings at extended spring, manager Torey Lovullo said . ... LHP Robbie Ray (strained right oblique) played catch from 90 feet.
Mets: CF Juan Lagares, a Gold Glove winner in 2014, is expected to miss the rest of the season because of an injury to the big toe on his left foot. Lagares is tentatively scheduled for surgery next week . ... 3B Todd Frazier was eligible to come off the disabled list, but is day to day with his strained left hamstring. "I think initially we were hoping that he would maybe be playing in a rehab game today, but he just isn't there," manager Mickey Callaway said.