Mets blank Padres as deGrom pitches seven shutout innings
New York — No big league pitcher has been better in the sun than Mets ace Jacob deGrom.
Given a rare bit of first-inning run support, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner shined as expected. DeGrom pitched seven innings of four-hit ball after teammates gifted him an unprecedented early lead and New York beat the San Diego Padres 4-0 Thursday.
Todd Frazier hit a two-run double as New York built a four-run lead in its first turn against Eric Lauer, the most runs the Mets have scored in the first inning during deGrom’s 160 starts.
“That was nice,” deGrom said. “But every time I go out there I try to think of it as a 0-0 baseball game.”
DeGrom (6-7) struck out nine and walked one on 105 pitches in the matinee, extending his scoreless streak to 17 innings. The ace from the Sunshine State has a 1.86 ERA in 52 day games, best in the majors since at least 1913 for pitchers with at least 200 innings.
Mets closer Edwin Díaz entered for the ninth in a non-save situation and was pulled after Manny Machado drilled a base hit off his left big toe. Díaz limped off the field with a trainer and was replaced by Luis Avilán. X-rays were negative.
The Padres have lost nine of 12, a slump that likely has dropped them out the crowded wild card race. Lauer (5-8) was pulled after 2 1/3 innings with four runs allowed on six hits and three walks.
“Big hole for us,” San Diego manager Andy Green said. “Rarely does a team come back spotting that guy four runs.”
DeGrom danced around bats with a slider averaging 91.8 mph. He threw the pitch 58 times, eight more than his previous career high in a 10-strikeout game against Philadelphia on July 5. This was the first time deGrom went slider for more than half of his pitches.
Manager Mickey Callaway called it “probably the best” slider in baseball.
“Just velo, break, the way it plays off of his fastball,” Callaway said. “It looks exactly the same. He tunnels his pitches great. It’s a devastating weapon when he’s got it going on.”