Jacob deGrom struck out nine in a successful return from the injured list and Tomás Nido hit a tiebreaking homer to send the depleted New York Mets past the Colorado Rockies 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Back from a bout with tightness on his right side, deGrom gave up only Ryan McMahon's solo homer in five innings of three-hit ball. The two-time Cy Young Award winner fired his usual assortment of 100 mph fastballs and nasty sliders during his first major league outing since May 9.
He walked none and was removed after 63 pitches. The nimble right-hander, who also singled at the plate for his eighth hit in seven games this season, went three innings last Thursday in a rehab appearance for Class A St. Lucie, fanning eight.
Nido connected for a two-run shot off Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-3) in the sixth after Dominic Smith singled. Nido stopped at second when umpires initially ruled the ball in play, but they changed the call to a home run without benefit of replay following a huddle in the infield.
Cameras showed the ball indeed barely cleared the wall in left-center.
Nido then waved his arms to spur on the Citi Field crowd as he finished rounding the bases with his third homer of the season. The backup catcher has been pressed into more regular duty lately because New York has 16 players on the injured list, most in the majors.
Edwin Diaz came in for the save in the ninth and started out firing, striking out Charlie Blackmon on three pitches. Diaz walked C.J. Cron to give the Rockies a chance, but then sent down Ryan McMahon swinging on a full-count slider for the second out. He then struck out Brendan Rodgers for his eighth save of the season.
RHP Noah Syndergaard was pulled from his second rehab outing with Class A St. Lucie after one inning because of soreness in his pitching elbow. Syndergaard is coming back from Tommy John surgery on March 26 last year. The team said he was removed from the game as a precaution. Manager Luis Rojas said the team was not overly concerned but will reevaluate on Wednesday.
3B J.D. Davis (sprained left hand) left his rehab assignment at Triple-A Syracuse and was headed back to New York for more treatment as the club determines the next step. RHP Taijuan Walker threw live batting practice to two hitters and manager Luis Rojas said it was “very encouraging.” Walker is scheduled to play catch Wednesday and throw a “touch and feel” on Thursday. Rojas said he doesn’t expect Walker to need a rehab start before returning to the rotation. He has been out since May 18 due to tightness in his right side.
Despite all the injuries, the Mets (22-20) lead the NL East. They snapped a three-game slide and won for the fourth time in 11 games.
(Photo- Getty Images)