Mets Earn Shutout Win Over Phillies, 2-0
NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom pitched into the seventh inning, Juan Lagares drove in a run with an infield single and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 Monday to win their home opener.
Travis d'Arnaud added a sacrifice fly as the Mets improved to 34-20 in home openers, including 4-3 at Citi Field. They have won 18 of their last 24 games against NL East rival Philadelphia.
One day before All-Star ace Matt Harvey makes his first home start since August 2013, the Mets mustered just enough offense against Aaron Harang and the Phillies' bullpen to make a winner of deGrom (1-1).
Last season's NL Rookie of the Year gave up seven hits in 6 1-3 innings before a sellout crowd of 43,947 that included Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David and Matthew Broderick.
Second baseman Daniel Murphy made a nice defensive play to help reliever Carlos Torres pitch out of a seventh-inning jam. And with the Mets on their third closer since opening day last year, Jeurys Familia got a double-play ball in the ninth and earned his second save.
Murphy doubled with one out in the fourth and advanced when d'Arnaud flied out to right Lagares hit a comebacker that a twisting Harang (1-1) knocked down with his glove. But the 36-year-old righty stumbled awkwardly for a moment on the mound and was slow to retrieve the ball. By the time he threw to first, Lagares beat the play for an RBI single.
New York added a run in the eighth on d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly after Murphy's hard one-hopper, which could have been turned into an inning-ending double play, went through the legs of second baseman Chase Utley for an error.
Michael Cuddyer had two hits in his first home game for the Mets, including a fly-ball triple that right fielder Grady Sizemore lost in the sun.
Harang, who made four starts for the Mets late in 2013, was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh.
WHAT A PLAY!
Curtis Granderson was robbed of extra bases on a fully extended, diving catch by speedy Phillies LF Ben Revere, who ran a long way just to give himself a chance. The catch was so impressive, he received a round of applause from Mets fans. Revere also made a nice grab on Lagares' long drive in the second.
NEW LOOK
After the Mets brought in the Citi Field fences last winter for a second time, the new dimensions in right-center never really came into play.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: A trainer and manager Ryne Sandberg came out to check Harang after Lagares' run-scoring infield single. Harang took a long breather but stayed in the game without trying a warmup pitch.
Mets: General manager Sandy Alderson said he expects right-handed relievers Vic Black (shoulder tendinitis) and Bobby Parnell (elbow surgery) to begin rehab assignments with Class A St. Lucie in the next day or two. ... Alderson said top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard was examined a while back after feeling tightness in his arm during spring training. Syndergaard had an MRI and everything everything checked out fine, Alderson said.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP David Buchanan (0-1) starts Tuesday night. He was tagged for six runs, seven hits and four walks Thursday in a 6-2 loss to Boston. He is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts against the Mets.
Mets: Harvey, coming back from Tommy John surgery, is 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA in five starts against the Phillies. ... The Mets began a stretch with 19 of 22 games in New York, including three at Yankee Stadium.
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