Remembering Mets History (2022) Max Scherzer Dominates In Citi Field Debut As Mets Sweep Twin Bill

Tuesday April 19th, 2022: On a cold windy day at Citi Field, Buck Showalter's New York Mets (7-3) hosted Gabe Kapler San Francisco Giants (7-2). 

The first game of the twin bill was make-up game of yesterday's rain out. 

Tylor Megill went up against Alex Cobb who would leave the game early with an apparent injury.

The Mets would take the first game 5-4. In the home 1st they got a run when Starling Marte scored on Alex Cobb's wild pitch. The Giants answered back with Joc Pederson's three run HR off Tylor Mcgill.

At one point the Mets were down 4-1. But in the 5th inning, JD Davis singled. The Mets challenged a double play & the play was overturned, with Travis Jankowski safe at first base. James McCann then doubled. With two on, Jeff McNeil doubled to right field bringing the Mets within a run. 

After Starling Marte grounded out, the hot Francisco Lindor doubled down the right field line to tie the game at four.

The game would go to extra innings, the bottom of the 10th started with the free runner placed on second to start the inning, Brandon Nimmo. Starling Marte then walked with one out. 

Then it was Lindor who singled to no man's land in right field, scoring Nimmo with the walk off game winning run. It was Lindor's first walk off hit since coming to the Mets. 

Lindor drove in his 8th & 9th RBIs of the year. McNeil also had two RBIs giving him 6 on the season. 

Tylor Megill pitched six innings, allowing four runs, the big blow the HR to Pederson. 

Joley Rodriguea, Seth Lugo, Edwin Diaz & Adam Ottavino all pitched scoreless innings, with Ottavina getting the win.

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In the night cap, it was the much-anticipated Citi Field debut of Matt Scherzer. Scherzer has had a fantastic career at Citi Field, from starting the 2013 All Star Game for the A.L. to pitching a no hitter against the Mets & striking out 17. 

This time he was on the Mets side, pitching for the home team.

Scherzer started out the first inning, striking out Mike Yastrzemski & Brandon Belt looking. 

In the 2nd, he struck out two more batters, Brandon Crawford & Thario Estrada. 

In the 3rd, Steve Duggar hit a sharp liner, but it was snagged by Brandon Nimmo. Hethen struck out Jason Vosler for the second out. Scherzer then issued his only walk of the night, to Curt Casali. He then got Yastrzemski to fly out.

In was in the home 3rd, the Mets did all their damage. With one out Francisco Lindor doubled to right field. After Jeff McNeil flew out, Logan Webb thru a wild pitch advancing Lindor to third. Pete Alonso then drew a walk. 

Next Eduardo Escobar doubled to the right field corner, scoring Lindor & third base coach Joey Cora waved home a chugging Pete Alonso for a 2-0 Mets lead. The rally continued as Dom Smith singled, bringing in Escobar with the third run.

In the top of the 4th, Scherzer retired the side in order once again. In the 5th, he quickly retired the first two batters then got the crowd on their feet as he struck out Steven Duggar for the second time & his seventh K of the night.

In an exciting top of the 6th, Scherzer was flirting with a no hitter. He got Vosler on a called third
strike, then struck out Casali swinging driving the crowd wild. Scherzer then walked Yastrzemski & Brandon Belt. 

He then lost the no hitter when Darin Ruf singled & Yaz scored ending the shutout as well.

Max came out for the 7th inning as well, he retired the side in order, striking out Steve Duggar for the second time, for the third out & strike out #10.

Drew Smith & Trevor May wrapped up the game, as the Mets took two from the Giants for the first time since 1979. Francisco Lindor with his two hits, got his average up to .310. Eduardo Escobar & Dom Smith both had two hits as well.