Sean Manaea throws seven two-hit innings as Mets shut out Twins
Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea throws during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on Tuesday. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
The Mets added three pitchers on a plentiful trade deadline day Tuesday. But the biggest noise came from a pitcher they already had on the roster.
Sean Manaea allowed two hits and struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings against the Twins as the Mets won their second in a row, 2-0, before 27,767 at Citi Field.
Manaea (7-4, 3.50 ERA) walked one and left after 96 pitches (70 strikes). He is the first Mets lefthander to strike out 11 since Steven Matz on Sept. 1, 2018 vs. San Francisco.
“I thought he was really good today,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Pretty impressive. Everything was working.”
Said Manaea: “Felt like I was throwing everything for strikes. Getting ahead of guys and that was pretty much just what happened. Felt good about all my pitches.
The Twins’ 2-3-4 of Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis and Jose Miranda faced Manaea nine times and had eight strikeouts and a walk.
Ryne Stanek, whom the Mets picked up from Seattle on Friday, came in for the eighth and induced a grounder to first by Max Kepler.
Pete Alonso underhanded one of the worst throws you’ll ever see by a big-leaguer. The ball sailed over Stanek for an error as the pitcher went down in a heap.
Stanek was unhurt, but after getting the first out walked No. 9 hitter Brooks Lee. Stanek retired pinch hitter Trevor Larnach on a fly ball to center, and Mendoza called on Edwin Diaz for a four-out save attempt.
Diaz, who last pitched on Thursday, struck out Buxton on a 3-and-2 slider to end the inning and spare Alonso any further embarrassment.
In the ninth, Diaz retired the side in order for his 13th save in 18 chances.
J.D. Martinez gave the Mets a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the fourth.
In a three-pitch, four-throw span against Minnesota starter David Festa, Francisco Lindor drew ball four, Festa was called for a balk while throwing to first on a pickoff attempt, Festa threw a wild pitch as Lindor took third, and Martinez lined the run-scoring single to center.
Mark Vientos made it 2-0 on a leadoff homer in the fifth. It was Vientos’ 15th home run and 40th RBI of the season.
Manaea’s career high in strikeouts is the 13 he had for Oakland vs. Seattle on July 22, 2021.
On Tuesday, the lefthander struck out at least one batter in every inning and fanned four of his final five batters. The only hits Manaea allowed were a ground ball single to center by Lee in the third and an infield single by Carlos Santana in the fourth.
Before the 6 p.m. trade deadline, the Mets dealt for starting pitcher Paul Blackburn from Oakland and relievers Huascar Brazoban from Miami and Tyler Zuber from Tampa Bay.
“The front office believes in us and I think we all believe in each other,” Manaea said. "Those actions are huge and very welcome.”
Notes: Jesse Winker (1-for-3), who started in rightfield for the second straight game, was removed for defense after six innings. On Monday, he was removed after five in the Mets’ 15-2 victory. Before Monday, Winker hadn’t played the outfield since June 30. The Mets picked him up on Sunday from Washington . . . Francisco Alvarez missed his second straight game with left shoulder soreness . . . Starling Marte (right knee bone bruise) said he hopes to start a rehab assignment as soon as next week . . . Dedniel Nunez (right forearm strain) hasn't started throwing yet but hopes to later this week.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
