Three Mets takeaways from Subway Series Game 1 win over Yankees
Mets relief pitcher Jake Diekman delivers against the Yankees during the ninth inning of an MLB game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
1. Jeff McNeil really might be back
McNeil went 2-for-3 with a walk and a go-ahead two-run homer Tuesday, and signs are pointing to the fact that this might be more than just a hot streak. The former NL batting champion had a horrific start to the season, but said he’s gone back to his roots — focusing on hitting the ball hard and in the air instead of hunting and pecking for holes. In the last eight games, he’s 9-for-26 (.346) with four homers, 11 RBIs and six runs. Before that, he had been hitting .214 with five home runs. The mental shift, he said, came before his current results: It started with the Mets game against the Pirates and Paul Skenes on July 5.
“I’m more confident,” he said. “I feel like my swing is right where I need it to be . . . had a lot of success in the big leagues hitting for average and I think I was searching for that, trying to take that line drive swing and guide the ball out there instead of just seeing the ball over the plate and letting it rip. My swing path, I think, is a lot better when I’m swinging hard and trying to drive the ball almost as far as I can.”
2. Luis Severino might’ve been right
Even though there was no apparent bad blood between Severino and his former Yankees teammates, it does appear that his comments last week were somewhat prescient. When talking about back-and-forth smack talk between him and his old crew, he recalled telling them: “I’m not afraid of you guys. Right now, you only have two good hitters. I can walk those two guys.” Well . . . it kind of worked for Mets pitchers, beginning with Jose Quintana. Quintana went after the lefthanded Juan Soto, but nibbled around Judge, who ended up being walked in four of his five at bats. It worked perfectly: With J.D. Davis hitting behind him, the Yankees weren’t able to get much offensive traction.
3. Carlos Mendoza has guts
The one time the Mets didn’t pitch around Judge was probably his most pivotal at bat. With the Yankees down one with a runner on base and one out in the ninth, Mendoza allowed a struggling Jake Diekman to go after Judge, and Diekman struck him out. Edwin Diaz, who’d pitched three out of the last four days, including a 28-pitch outing Monday, wasn’t available.
The most interesting part, though, was that Mendoza had Judge intentionally walked just two innings prior.. So, why the change in the ninth with one of your more hittable pitchers?
“I don’t know,” Mendoza said, laughing. “When the ninth inning started, I was just going to let it play out and see how we were going to get to Judge. Obviously, there was a runner at first base and I decided to pitch to him. I’m glad it worked out today and a huge job by Diekman . . . [It was based on] a feel for the game, seeing how Diekman was throwing the ball. The fastball had life. So yeah, runner on second base probably a different story, but roll the dice there.”
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
