Remembering Mets History (2018): Mets Start Season With An Opening Day Victory For Rusty Staub

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Thursday March 29th 2018- Opening Day '18: The Mets opened up the 2018 season with mixed emotions, as Mets legend Rusty Staub passed away that morning.

On the field there was lots of enthusiasm & hope for the year ahead, as the Mickey Callaway era began. 44,189 came out to a cloudy damp Citi Field to see Noah Syndergaard take on the St. Louis Cardinals.

 The Mets held a moment of silence for Rusty Staub & Ed Charles "the Glider" two Mets alumni that had both recently passed.

The pre game introductions were well, as the new comers were welcomed, the returning Mets were cheered & no one was booed on the Mets side. Wilmer Flores, Jacob deGrom, Yoenis Cespedes & David Wright got the biggest cheers.
Noah Syndergaard started out the season striking out Dexter Fowler. He would strike out ten batters, allowing four runs on six hits, no walks & two HRs, which is rare for Noah. But he earned his first win on the year. 

 In the home 1st, Brandon Nimmo became the second Met in history to lead off a season & get hit by a pitch. Alex Cora was the first in 2010. Jay Bruce then walked & Asdrubal Cabrera reached on a force attempt. The throw went into left field & Nimmo crossed the plate with the Mets first run of 2018.

 The Cards came back in the 2nd, as Met nemesis Yadier Molina hit his first HR in New York, since that fatal 2006 NLCS HR in Game #6 at Shea Stadium. 

 The Mets came back as Kevin Plawecki drew a one out walk. With two outs Amed Rosario singled to center. Brandon Nimmo then walked to load the bases. Yoenis Cespedes delivered a two out single giving the Mets a 3-2 lead.

 In the 5th the Mets sent ten men to the plate, collecting five hits with two walks scoring five runs. First off, with one out Todd Frazier walked & scored on Adrian Gonzales double to right field. Kevin Plaecki walked, Syndergaard sacrificed the runners over.

Next, Amed Rosario started out his season with a two RBI single to left field making it 6-2 Mets. 

 Nimmo then singled, he would get on base three times & score two runs for the Mets. Cespedes then drove in his third run of the game with his second base hit. Jay Bruce added a base hit driving in the Mets 8th run making it 8-3.

 The Mets added a run in the 8th, Asdrubal Cabrera walked & advanced to third on two wild pitches. He scored on Plawecki's base hit, wrapping up the 9-4 Mets win. All Mets in the starting line up contributed, as they all reached base. The Mets collected 12 hits on the day.

The Mets bullpen was fantastic, Robert Gsellman, Anthony Swarzak & Jeurys Familia threw three innings of scoreless, hitless baseball.

The Mets continued their Opening Day success with another victory, they are now 36-21 on Opening Day in their team history. They have won their last four in a row, as well as six of their last seven.

Comments

John From Albany said…
The earliest season opener ever for the Mets. Thanks for the detailed look as always.
March 9, 2021 at 7:54 AM
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