Chicago– Heading into today Cubs rookie Shota Imanaga was the borderline favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year and the Met offense pounced on him early and often. Imanaga managed to only pitch three innings giving up 11 hits and 10 earned runs that made his ERA jump from a 1.89 to 2.96. When it was all said and done the Mets have now scored double digit runs in three out of the last five games, with a combined 50 hits.
“We took his heater away, we were ready for the fastball and for when we got pitches in the zone. Lindor in the first inning and obviously J.D. for the three run homer. Alvarez got him on a fastball up in the zone and got on top of it. 1 through 9 the approach was great because we were ready for his fastball,” Mendoza said.
J.D. Martinez and Jose Iglesias had massive days at the plate combining for seven RBIs and six hits. Martinez mashed a three run home run in the top of the first to give the Mets a quick lead. The 36 year-old slugger is now at 9 home runs on the season with 31 RBIs and continues to swing a hot bat. Jose Iglesias keeps his hot start going with a four hit day while driving in three and is now batting .438 with an OPS of .986. Iglesias continues to prove to Carlos Mendoza that he is the vital option when a left-handed pitcher is in the game.
“We know we have a good lineup. We kind of preach it, sometimes it shows up and sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s just baseball. I think today and in the first game in Arlington this is the kind of potential this lineup has,” Martinez said.
After a shaky first inning Mets starting pitcher Jose Quintana put together a great performance. In back to back starts Quintana has pitched a minimum of six innings and struck out a combined 14 batters. Against the Cubs today he pitched six and a third with eight strikeouts giving up one unearned run. In the month of June Quintana has an ERA of 3.15 and an opponent batting average of .219.
The Mets are now 8-2 in the last 10 games and are back to half a game out from a playoff spot with two more to go in Chicago. Tylor Megill will face off against Jameson Taillon tomorrow afternoon to keep the train going.