Stroman pitches Mets to sweep
NEW YORK » Back on the mound two days after an abbreviated start, Marcus Stroman tossed six spotless innings and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 Tuesday night for a doubleheader sweep.
Brandon Nimmo had three hits and three RBIs from the leadoff spot. Jonathan Villar followed up his game-winning single in the opener with a run-scoring double, and Stroman (20) outpitched Phillies ace Aaron Nola.
Both games of the singleadmission twinbill, booked to make up Monday night’s rainout at Citi Field, were scheduled for seven innings
in keeping with a rules change introduced during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
In the first game, Pete
Alonso and Villar each hit an RBI single in the eighth to give New York a 4-3 victory in extra innings. Dominic Smith socked an early two-run homer for the Mets.
Stroman’s outing Sunday against Miami lasted only nine pitches because the game was suspended due to rain. He tweeted his displeasure, saying the game never should have started and he hated that he would have to wait another five days to pitch again.
Mets manager Luis Rojas initially said Stroman would remain on four days of rest and pitch Friday at Colorado. After the postponement Monday was an- nounced, however, Rojas reversed course and said Stroman would start the nightcap Tuesday.
Rojas said Stroman at first wanted to recreate his entire between-start regimen, including a bullpen and workouts. But after playing catch Monday, he told his manager his arm would be ready for Tuesday and he was taking the ball in the nightcap to be there for the team.
“That was nice to hear, of course,” Rojas said.