Baseball is a funny game.
The Toronto Blue Jays figured to be hard pressed for scoring runs Friday night against reigning two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets. Runs definitely were hard to come by for Toronto.
The problem was that New York scored runs with relative ease during a brisk evening that would’ve made perfect high school football weather. Considering all the close games the Jays have played during this shortened season, no one anticipated the 18-1 beat down from they received from the Amazin’s at Sahlen Field.
Michael Conforto, Dominic Smith, Robinson Cano (3 for 4) and No. 9 hitter Wilson Ramos (3 for 5, four RBIs, four runs) combined for 10 of the Mets’ 19 hits, who made themselves at home in upstate and smoked baseballs all over the place.
Things got so bad that shortstop Santiago Espinal pitched the ninth for the Jays, giving up a run and two hits.
“It was a tough game,” Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “Our pitching has been good but not today. There’s nothing you can do.”
The run support was more than plenty for de Grom (4-1). It was the most he's received in any start of his career, a turnaround for the game's best hurler who usually doesn't receive any offensive support. He still delivered his usual assortment of nasty pitches – sliders in the low to mid 90s and four-seam fastballs flirting with 100 mph. He only went six innings, striking out nine while yielding three hits and two walks. His earned-run average dropped from 1.69 to 1.67, as folks saw why he has a chance to become just the 11th pitcher in history to win three Cy Young Awards and just the third of capturing three in a row.
Toronto tried to get to deGrom early as it collected a run and two hits in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Randal Grichuk punched a 99 mph fastball to right for a single, stole second and scored on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s long RBI single to right. That was it.
“We battled early on,” Montoyo said. “He's one of the best pitchers in baseball no doubt. We knew coming into this game we couldn't give up many runs."
Batting around and round
The Mets seized control in the third and fourth innings, scoring 14 runs including a 10-spot in the fourth. During those two innings, they batted around twice and sent a total of 23 men to the plate and smacked 13 hits.
Conforto’s three-run shot to left center field was the mighty blow in the third as the first four batters of that inning reached against Jays starter Chase Anderson (0-1), who didn’t make it out of the third.
In the fourth, the Jays almost avoided the big inning but ultimately opened the door for the Mets. A soft liner to short by J.D. Davis wound up being one-hopped by Espinal. That forced all three runners on base to hold but then his throw home was dropped by catcher Danny Jansen, leading to an unearned run. Smith followed with a grand slam to right center to make it 9-1. Ramos added a three-run double later in the inning
"I wanted them to keep scoring as much as they could," deGrom said. "For me I did the best I could to move around and just stay loose in the dug out."
Dubious club
Toronto became the first MLB team the 2006 Tampa Bay Rays to score 10 runs in an inning and give up 10 runs in an inning during the same week. Remember, the Jays scored 10 during the sixth inning of Monday’s 12-7 comeback win over the Yankees.
Other tidbits about the 10 and 10 is that this joins 2010 as the only seasons in Blue Jays history in which they’ve posted and allowed a 10-run inning.
From a Sahlen Field perspective, since opening in 1988 there had been only two double-digit innings (11 in 1996 by Indianapolis and 10 by the Bisons against Richmond in 2001).
Running up the score
Some football-like scores have been tallied by big league teams this week, fitting considering the NFL kickoff Thursday night.
Toronto scored 12 runs Monday. On Tuesday, San Diego posted a 14-spot against Colorado. Wednesday was simply eye-popping as Atlanta set the National League record for runs scored in a 29-9 win over Miami. Earlier that day, Milwaukee scored 19 against Detroit. On Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals booted four field goals in a 12-2 win over the struggling Tigers. Then came Friday’s 18-run burst by the Mets.
9/11 remembered
Mets players and manager Luis Rojas wore first-responder caps Friday to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice made by the police, firefighters, department of sanitation workers and other emergency folks during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City.
The Yankees also did this during their twin bill against Baltimore, as Friday marked the first time since 2001 the teams received to OK from Major League Baseball to wear FDNY or NYPD caps on the field.
Around the horn
For those with short memories, the Mets were the big league parent for the Buffalo Bisons from 2009-12. The two also were affiliates from 1963-65. … The Jays announced Robbie Ray will start Saturday night’s game, while Hyun-jin Ryu gets the start in Sunday’s finale. ... Toronto must have a short memory as its grip on second place in the American League East is shrinking after the third-place Yankees swept a twin bill Friday from Baltimore. The Jays now have a half-game lead on the Yanks.
