Wheeler impressive on mound, Mets top Pirates
Trade candidate Zack Wheeler showed off a live arm in his return from the injured list, Jeff Mcneil hit the first of four Mets homers and New York beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 Friday night in New York.
Wheeler (7-6) struck out seven over 5 innings in his first start since July 7 due to right shoulder fatigue — an issue he called an impingement. With contending teams watching closely, the right-hander averaged 96.8 mph on his fastball and looked sharp until Adam Frazier clocked a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Wheeler allowed three runs, six hits and no walks.
Mcneil hit a threerun homer, and Todd Frazier, Pete Alonso and Wilson Ramos added solo shots for New York’s Jeff Mcneil, right, celebrates with teammate Zack Wheeler after hitting a home run during Friday’s game against Pittsburgh. the Mets. Alonso’s homer was his 34th.
Pirates rookie starter Dario Agrazal (2-1) got roughed up for the first time in his short big league career, and Pittsburgh dropped its sixth straight. The Pirates are 2-13 since the All-star break.
With Mets closer Edwin Díaz nursing a sore left big toe a day after being hit by a line drive, Seth Lugo pitched the ninth for his first save of the season.
Wheeler, who can become a free agent after the season, expects to be dealt prior to the July 31 deadline and even has his bags packed at home. Manager Mickey Callaway acknowledged that Wheeler faced a “difficult task” tuning out the trade talk, but he expected the 29-yearold to lock in for game time. RED SOX 10, YANKEES 5:
Mookie Betts hit three home runs against James Paxton during the first four innings of another Boston rout of New York. Betts homered on Paxton’s eighth pitch in a three-run first that included J.D. Martinez’s two-run homer, went deep again leading off the third for a 4-0 lead and hit a two-run drive in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage.
BRAVES 9, PHILLIES 2:
Ronald Acuña Jr. had two hits and three RBIS, Brian Mccann hit a solo homer and Atlanta beat Philadelphia. Philadelphia’s Jake Arrieta (8-8) allowed five runs — four earned — and five hits in five innings.
TWINS 6, WHITE SOX 2:
Nelson Cruz homered for the seventh time in his last five games, and Minnesota became the fastest team to reach 200 homers in major league history during a victory over Chicago White. CUBS ACQUIRE HOLLAND FROM GIANTS: Derek Holland was acquired by Chicago from San Francisco for a player to be named, giving the Cubs a new left-handed option out of the bullpen. San Francisco agreed to send Chicago $1,846,505 to cover all but $425,000 of the $2,271,505 remaining in Holland’s $6.5 million salary this year. The 32-year-old is 2-4 with a 5.90 ERA in seven starts and 24 relief appearances this year. NATIONALS’ SCHERZER HAS STRAINED BACK: Washington ace Max Scherzer received a stem cell shot to treat his strained back and hopes to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against Atlanta. Scherzer returned from the injured list Thursday and in his first start since July 6 allowed three runs and four hits over five innings during an 8-7 loss to Colorado. An MRI on Friday revealed the midback strain.