Taijuan Walker Sets Career-High With 12 Strikeouts in Mets' Win
Heading into the night, Mets starting pitchers produced a 0.89 ERA in their last turn through the rotation.
And as he has done all season, right-hander Taijuan Walker kept the trend going with a spectacular performance, albeit dealing with a stomach bug against the Cubs on Tuesday.
The right-hander tossed seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out a career-high 12 batters to propel his team to a 3-2 victory. For Walker, this was also his first double digit strikeout performance in a Mets uniform.
There's no denying that Walker, who sports a 2.12 ERA (5th lowest in MLB) through 12 starts, has been the steal of the offseason.
“We hit the jackpot with this guy,” Manager Luis Rojas said after the Mets' 3-2 win over the Cubs. “He’s been outstanding for us.”
As it turns out, the Mets were the only team to offer him a contract in free agency, but Walker wouldn't have it any other way.
“The Mets being my only offer, I feel like it was destiny for me to be here, honestly,” Walker said. “Everything has worked out well for everyone. I’m actually really happy to be here. So I’m glad the Mets were my only offer.”
Despite running into first inning trouble, Walker was able to fight out of a jam with three strikeouts, including a wicked 95 mph sinker to get Anthony Rizzo looking.
Walker struck out five Cubs' hitters in the first two innings and looked to be in a pretty good groove early on.
However, he served up a ball that got too much of the plate to the dangerous Javier Baez, who crushed a two-run shot into right field to get the Cubs on the board in the top of the third.
Luckily, Dom Smith bailed Walker out later in the inning with a leaping grab near the left field wall to rob Wilson Contreras of extra-bases.
Cubs starter Alec Mills was spotless through the first two innings, changing speeds on the Mets hitters, flipping between a 77 mph slider, 91 mph fastball and 69 mph curve.
But In the bottom of the third, the Mets answered back. Once again, it was Smith making his presence felt as he doubled past the shift to setup second-and-third with two outs for Pete Alonso.
And on the first pitch, Alonso made Mills pay by ripping a two-run game tying single into center field.
Following a one out single in the bottom of the fifth, Mills exited after 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out six batters.
Cubs manager David Ross went to left-handed reliever Rex Brothers, who allowed a single to Francisco Lindor and walked Smith to load the bases for Alonso.
And Alonso was back at it again, driving in his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to put the Mets ahead for the first time at 3-2. The Mets' third run was charged to Mills, who was pulled earlier in the inning.
With the Mets now in the lead, Walker settled in nicely with four scoreless innings in a row to end his night.
Clinging to a one run lead upon Walker's exit, Seth Lugo came in for the eighth and picked up where his starter left off with a 1-2-3 inning, collecting two punch outs along the way.
After Edwin Diaz pitched three out of the last four games, Rojas opted to let Lugo stay on to pitch the ninth.
It was later revealed that using Lugo for two innings wasn't the initial plan, but the right-hander told his manager he was good to keep going.
Lugo, who looked to be running on fumes, allowed a single to Contreras with one out. With the tying run on first, former Met Jake Marisnick entered as a pinch runner for Contreras.
And What happened next was arguably the biggest moment of the night when pinch hitter Eric Sogard ripped a base hit deep into the gap in right center, which saw Marisnick chugging around the bases trying to score.
However, Kevin Pillar hit the cut off man Luis Guillorme, who delivered the perfect relay throw home to gun down Marisnick at the plate to keep the Mets ahead by a run.
“Off the bat, I was thinking it was just a single, but I looked back and saw the outfielders kind of splitting up, so my only thought in the moment was ‘don’t back up third, back up home,’ ” Lugo said. “I was a little surprised to see (Cubs third base coach Willie Harris) send him.
“But those guys made a great relay. It was perfect. That was big-time for me. … Those guys are great. They’ve been playing outstanding defense all year and having those guys behind me just gives me all the confidence to execute pitches and throw it over the plate. It was a great relay and they executed it perfectly.”
Although it wasn't easy, Lugo completed the six out save, and his first of the season, to preserve Walker's gem.
The Mets are now a season-high nine games over .500 at 34-25. They've won seven of their last nine games, and will look to clinch the series against the Cubs on Wednesday night with ace Jacob deGrom on the mound.
