Jacob deGrom and Mets Force Game 3 Against San Diego Padres

To beat the Padres on Saturday, the Mets relied on their cornerstone players: shortstop Francisco Lindor, first baseman Pete Alonso, second baseman Jeff McNeil and deGrom. Lindor and Alonso each homered, while McNeil, the N.L. batting champion, broke the game open with a two-run double in the seventh inning. The Mets’ bullpen — led by closer Edwin Díaz, who was called upon when it was a one-run game — provided stout relief.

But the bulk of the game belonged to deGrom, 34, who struck out eight. Injuries derailed his past two seasons. When he returned from a shoulder injury in Aug. 2, it was his first start in the major leagues in 13 months. He helped the Mets over the final two months of the regular season and Saturday was the first time he pitched on the sport’s biggest stage, the postseason, since Game 2 of the 2015 World Series, which the Mets lost to the Kansas City Royals.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/08/sports/baseball/jacob-degrom-mets-padres-wild-card.html