Thor strikes twice: Homer, shutout lift Mets past Reds
NEW YORK — This might have been Thor’s most dominant bolt of brilliance yet.
Noah Syndergaard became the first major league pitcher in 36 years to homer and throw a complete game in a 1-0 victory, lifting the New York Mets over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
Syndergaard (2-3) struck out 10 and allowed four hits in his second shutout, shaking off a sloppy start to the season with a do-it-all effort. He became the first Mets starter to get an out in the eighth this year and the franchise’s first starter to go yard in a 1-0 complete game.
Thor did his hammering in the third inning, driving a ball 407 feet to the opposite field off Tyler Mahle (0-4).
“I got that one pretty good,” the left-handed hitter said with a smile.
Said Mets manager Mickey Callaway: “It looked like a righty hit it. A power-hitting righty.”
The previous pitcher to homer in a 1-0 complete game was the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Bob Welch against the Reds on June 17, 1983.
Syndergaard, a hard-throwing All-star in 2016, entered with a 6.35 ERA this season. His velocity picked up a tick from where he’d been, topping out at 99.5 mph on his final pitch to freeze Yasiel Puig.
The right-hander had said chilly temperatures were making it difficult to grip the ball in previous starts. Working under sunny skies for a rare noon start, Thor busted out thunder and lightning in broad daylight.
“It was nice to be able to pitch in some nice weather,” Syndergaard said.
Syndergaard’s second homer this season was the sixth of his career, tying Tom Seaver for second among Mets pitchers, one behind Dwight Gooden’s team record.
New York entered with three homers from its pitching staff — including one each from Jacob degrom and Zack Wheeler — which was tied with Arizona for the major league lead. The Mets’ four homers matched the franchise season record set in 2016.