After a week of rain and rain-related storylines, the Mets were finally able to play a game without incident. Tylor Megill turned in a season-best performance with 7 1/3 innings and the Mets defeated the Phillies 4-3 in the opening game.
It was a game that mattered little for both teams. The NL East was decided long ago with the Atlanta Braves clinching the title for the second year in a row, and the Phillies having clinched the top NL Wild Card playoff spot earlier in the week. They have a six-game lead over the Arizona Cardinals. The Mets, of course, were officially eliminated from playoff contention last week in Philadelphia.
But finishing this weekend strong still means something for the Mets, and they beat up a pitcher who used to be one of their own in the matinee game. Taijuan Walker (15-6) was tagged for four earned runs in a seven-inning outing. The Mets scored three runs in the first inning and Omar Narvaez made it 4-0 in the second with a leadoff homer, only his second round-tripper of the season.
Megill (9-18) was the star. In his final performance of the season, the right-hander went deeper than he had all year, carrying a scoreless outing into the eighth inning. Megill gave up back-to-back singles before getting the first out and being replaced by Brooks Raley.
The expectations around Megill were high this season and he struggled to perform. He was even demoted to Triple-A at one point. All year, the Mets tried to figure out why Megill and his left-handed counterpart David Peterson had regressed.
But Megill limited the Phillies to one earned run on four hits, walked two and struck out seven Saturday. He has worked to get his ERA under 5.00 and did exactly that, lowering it to 4.70.
He came off the field to an ovation from the fans. Left-hander Raley allowed the inherited runner to score, cutting the Mets lead to 4-1.
The Phillies threatened in the ninth, taking two runs off Adam Ottavino. Weston Wilson was advantageous on the basepaths, stealing second and third with only putting only one out. But Ottavino struck out Jake Cave and Christian Pache hit one right to Rafael Ortega in center field and Ottavino converted his 12th save.
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