Mets Crush Diamondbacks

There was reason for pessimism leading into Tuesday night’s Mets game against the Diamondbacks. Their only reliable hitter, Juan Lagares, was placed on the disabled list before the game with a pulled hamstring. The Diamondbacks starting pitcher, Bronson Arroyo, has always pitched well against the Mets. Well, all the Mets did was put on their best offensive showing of the year as they cruised to a shutout win.

Eric Young, Daniel Murphy and David Wright led off the game with singles to load the bases. Lucas Duda grounded out to first to score Young. It could have been a double play but Paul Goldschmidt bobbled the ball. The Mets took advantage — Andrew Brown hit a sacrifice fly and Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Lagares’s replacement, singled to give the Mets a 3-0 lead.

That was nothing compared to the third inning. Brown led off with a single and Nieuwenhuis followed with a two-run blast to make it a 5-0 game. Travis d’Arnaud walked and Omar Quintanilla doubled to put runners in first and third. After Jenrry Mejia flew out, Eric Young singled to plate two more runs. Murphy singled to center, but A Pollack bobbled the ball and Young scored all the way from first on the error. Wright singled to move Murphy to second and mercifully bring Arroyo’s night to an end. Randall Delgado came on and promptly hit Duda to load the bases. Brown grounded out to score Murphy and extend the lead to 9-0.

The Mets pounded Arroyo for 10 hits in just 3.1 innings. They were unusually aggressive, getting several of their hits on first pitches which goes against their dopey policy of patience and working counts.

Meantime Mejia mowed down the Diamondbacks. Unfortunately he was forced from the game after five innings when a blister on his middle finger opened up. Mejia did not allow any runs and gave up just two hits.

Old pal Oliver Perez pitched out of the bullpen for the Diamondbacks, the first time he has faced the Mets since they released him prior to the 2011 season. He threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Mets win 9-0.