Just like you drew it up

The Mets got back in the win column after a very annoying three game losing streak in the most ho-hum way possible: through timely hitting, quality pitching, and Edwin Díaz looking great after a blown save yesterday.

The Mets struck first, getting on the board with two outs in the top of the first. Francisco Lindor worked a two out walk against starter Kyle Gibson, and clean up hitting first baseman Pete Alonso DJ Stewart — who got his first career Major League start at first after seeing 16 games there in Syracuse last season — doubled him home. The Mets would add two more in the fifth in the most old-school way possible. A lead off single by Tomas Nido started the rally, and a single by Brandon Nimmo kept the line moving. Lars Nootbar made a mess of it in right, though, and an error turned a first and second with no outs situation into a second and third with no outs situation.

The Mets capitalized in a way that would make everyone’s Little League coach proud. Starling Marte grounded out to second to make it 2-0, and Francisco Lindor hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Sean Manaea was good, for the most part. He only struck out one, but he also only walked one. He kept a (admittedly struggling) Cardinals lineup mostly at bay, scattering just six hits over six, and only allowing two runners in scoring position in the first five innings. The sixth was much less kind to him, however. A lead off single to José Fermín, and a subsequent double by Willson Contreras, cut the lead to 3-1. Paul Goldschmidt worked a walk, and Manaea got the next two batters to make it seem like he would bend but not break on the evening. He could not get out of the inning further unscathed, as Iván Herrera smoked a ball into center field for a double to tie the game at three. He attempted to stretch it into a triple but was thrown out, bailing out the Mets a wee bit.

Brandon Nimmo quickly decided that he wanted Sean Manaea to get a win, absolutely unloading on a hanger thrown by Andrew Kittredge, who has been dominant so far this year. The lead off home run went 111.1 mph, and gave the Mets a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish.

The bullpen was largely excellent. Jake Diekman and Adam Ottavino pitched the seventh and eighth respectively and had identical lines. They both surrendered a hit, struck out one each, and got a hold for their efforts. Edwin Díaz got the ball in the ninth and handled it with aplomb, throwing 98 mph — a great sign considering he pitched yesterday — and looked like his typically sharp self, getting a strike out and two ground outs to put the Mets back into the win column.

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Win Probability Added

What’s WPA?

Big Mets winner: Brandon Nimmo, +24.9% WPA
Big Mets loser: Brett Baty, -9.8% WPA
Mets pitchers: +38.5% WPA
Mets hitters: 11.5% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Brandon Nimmo’s solo home run in the seventh, +21.1% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Iván Herrera’s two RBI double in the sixth, -25.4% WPA