By Rich Mancuso/Sports Editor
Noah Syndergaard had to adjust the fastball and did it well Tuesday night at Citi Field. And it seemed the entire Mets lineup made similar adjustments against the Toronto Blue Jays a team that can’t win a game at Citi Field. Regardless this 12-2 win ended a six game home losing streak and 12-runs surpassed the ten of their last six games on that disaster of a last homestand.
The Toronto Blue Jays you ask? They are perhaps a remedy for the Mets who pounded out 16 hits and the bottom half of their lineup produced for the first time in a long time. Oh, don’t bypass the Mets are 12-0 against the Blue Jays in Queens the longest streak for any Major League team since the inception of interleague play.
“ Had a lot of production from the bottom half of the lineup,” manager Mikey Callaway said. “A lot of good at bats.” They were good at bats and this was a win the Mets needed to gain some confidence as they returned home for the first of two games in this brief interleague series with Toronto.
Noah Syndergaard gave the Mets 5.0 good innings on the mound. He helped his cause and had one of those good at bats with a first inning RBI double, batting before the number nine hitter Amed Rosario.
And it was good for Rosario who has also gained confidence at the plate. The run production was an aspect of this win for the Mets, and so was the production coming from that nine spot off the bat of Rosario.
It can be described as a break-out game for the young Mets shortstop who finished the game with a career-high tying three hits and two RBI. Number nine in the order for Rosario has been an adjustment and Callaway intends to keep him there.
“ Committed to keeping him in that hole,” said Callaway. And it seems to be working more as Rosario makes adjustments batting .379 with three doubles and four RBI in his last nine games. He missed a home run and came short of the cycle.
And it was Rosario in that bottom of the order that helped the Mets break that skid of scoring three runs or fewer in nine of their pst 11 games.
“More at bats and seeing better pitches in that spot,” said Rosario. He spoke without the assistance of an interpreter and if his at bats are as consistent as they were Tuesday night the Mets will take that, So will the manager because his team has been struggling to score runs and when the bottom of the order does their job that’s a good sign.
Exactly a win the Mets needed and without Yoenis Cespedes in the lineup. The Mets outfielder underwent an MRI earlier in the day with recurring pain to the quad. He is day-to-day and there is no word as to whether Cespedes will be in the lineup for the finale of this brief two-game series Wednesday afternoon.
The Mets may disable Cespedes for that 10-day period and it could happen Wednesday afternoon. But playing the Blue Jays is a good remedy and seeing Amed Rosario and the bottom of their lineup produce is even a better sign.
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