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New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Mets' Paul Blackburn returns looking better than ever in win over Dodgers
For the final time Monday night, New York Mets starting pitcher Paul Blackburn pulled from his scouting report on Shohei Ohtani, memories of first-hand experience from their shared time in the same division. Judging from how Blackburn pitched to Ohtani, it's likely the prep work strongly suggested to locate cutters up and in, offer changeups low and out of the strike zone. For the third time using that formula, Blackburn retired Ohtani, who hit a routine grounder with two runners on base to end the fifth inning. Advertisement Blackburn is typically reserved and soft-spoken. But after recording the final out of the fifth inning, which concluded his outing, he slapped his glove in triumph. While walking to the dugout with his head down, he briefly shouted to himself. Given Blackburn's path, some show of emotion, even for a 31-year-old veteran, seemed only natural. After waiting nine months since his last appearance in the major leagues, Blackburn blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers for five innings in the Mets' 4-3 win. Blackburn last pitched in a major-league game on Aug. 23, 2024. In that game, he was struck by a comebacker and landed on the injured list. From there, he missed the rest of the 2024 season due to a spinal leak in his back. He did not know if he would pitch again. After surgery, however, he entered spring training as a healthy player. Then came what he said was the worst part: right knee inflammation in late March resulting in a trip to the injured list, where he stayed until Monday (along the way, he also got sick, delaying an earlier return). 'For him to be out there after so much time that he missed, unbelievable job there,' Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. Welcome back, Blackburn!@moomooApp | #LGM — New York Mets (@Mets) June 3, 2025 In line with the overall upswing of the Mets' pitching staff this season, Blackburn returned looking better than before. Despite being sidelined, Blackburn gained movement on all of his pitches. Also, he pitched smarter, and not just against Ohtani, who struck out twice against him. Blackburn leaned on his cutter, curveball and changeup. He did not throw a single four-seam fastball, a pitch he used to throw about 20 percent of the time. He didn't throw a four-seamer in his final rehab appearance, either. That is not a coincidence. The thinking for Blackburn and the Mets is, why should he mess with throwing a four-seamer, a pitch batters slugged .694 in plate appearances that ended against it last season, when his cutter is good? Advertisement Under pitching coach Jeremy Hefner's guidance, the Mets' pitching staff owns the best ERA (2.88) in MLB. They are rolling to such an extent that they didn't merely survive by plugging in a sixth starter making his season debut against the defending World Series champion — they succeeded. Blackburn, who attacked the strike zone and pitched efficiently, allowed just three hits and a walk with three strikeouts. The Mets called on Blackburn to give their starters, notably Kodai Senga, an extra day of rest while in a stretch of 10 straight games. His stay in the rotation is not expected to last longer than Monday. He is likely to slide into a long relief role. 'There's a good chance he goes back to the bullpen for now, and we'll go from there,' Mendoza said. Even after a strong first start back, the Mets don't need Blackburn in the rotation. New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns' pitching plan is working. Stearns went into last offseason with a preference on adding to his starting pitching depth. He steered away from long-term contracts, didn't last long in the most expensive aisle for pitchers during free agency. The Mets (38-22) have played all season without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, their two top pitching acquisitions from the winter. Montas, who has made two rehab starts, may return by the end of June and Manaea is behind him after just recently starting to face batters. Blackburn said he is willing and ready to pitch in whatever role the club needs. 'I'm not blind to the guys who are coming off the IL here soon,' Blackburn said. The downside of relying on depth in the way the Mets do is they will likely need to make roster moves for their bullpen. With six starters, even temporarily, the bullpen is down a pitcher until Blackburn is rested enough to appear in relief. After a 10-inning game on Monday, it would likely be challenging to get through the next six games before the next off day without fresh arms. The Mets are proving that the upside, at least right now, is hard to argue against. (Jason Parkhurst/Imagn Images)
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Nathaniel Lowe's RBI double
David Peterson, Juan Soto and Brett Baty talk 'great team win' in Mets victory over Dodgers Mets starter David Peterson's "assignment" on Saturday night was to go deep into game against the defending champion Dodgers and he responded with his best performance of the season, pitching into eighth inning of the Mets 5-2 win. Juan Soto had been hitting in hard luck but his two-run, bases loaded double in the fourth inning was in Brett Baty's words, "huge." Baty had a pretty good night himself with two RBI as the Mets bounced back from the 13-inning marathon loss on Friday night. 11:44 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Juan Soto snaps 17-game home run drought in Mets' win
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto snapped a 17-game home run drought with a 404-foot homer to left-centerfield in the fourth inning of the New York Mets' 8-2 win Saturday over the Colorado Rockies. Soto's first homer since May 9 was clocked at 109.5 mph off the bat but hit into a 14 mph wind blowing out to right field. Advertisement 'He put a really good swing on it,' Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'For him to hit it out of the ballpark like that on a day that the conditions are not in his favor, that's pretty impressive.' Asked if he was confident the ball would leave the yard, Soto grinned. 'I mean, 110 (mph), you've got to be,' Soto said. 'I knew it was gone.' The home run drought was the fourth-longest of the outfielder's eight-year career. Soto, who signed a record $765 million, 15-year deal in December, entered Saturday hitting just .143 with two extra-base hits in his previous 17 games. But the reception at Citi Field has remained mostly warm for Soto, who raised his hands to the cheering crowd following his home run trot. He was serenaded with chants of 'JUAN SO-TO' from fans in the right field seats in the top of the fifth, when he turned and raised his arms in acknowledgment. Advertisement 'It's a great feeling when you feel the support like that,' Soto said. Soto homered one pitch after Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run shot to right. 'Francisco (Lindor) and I were doing our picture down there,' Nimmo said, referring to the Mets' post-home run tradition of posing in the dugout. 'Heard the sound of the bat and the crowd going wild. We looked out and were able to see him go the other way. That's when he's the best. 'I think weather's starting to heat up, we're flipping the script into June, this field will start to play a little more fair. I think it's just a sign of good things to come. Great to go back-to-back with him.' ___ AP MLB: Jerry Beach, The Associated Press
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Mets hand Rockies another series loss with 8-2 win
Juan Soto hit his first homer in more than three weeks and the New York Mets sent the Colorado Rockies to another series loss with an 8-2 win on Saturday. The Rockies, whose 9-49 record is the worst in the modern era through 58 games, are the first team in history to open a season with 19 straight series losses. Colorado has lost a major league-record 22 straight series dating back to last September. Brett Baty had a bases-clearing triple off Antonio Senzatela (1-10) in a four-run first inning, which Tyrone Taylor capped with a single. Brandon Nimmo and Soto homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth. Soto was serenaded with chants of "JUAN SO-TO" from fans in the right field seats in the top of the fifth, when he turned and raised his arms in acknowledgment. Jeff McNeil homered in the eighth. Kodai Senga (6-3) allowed two runs on two hits over 6 2/3 innings. He retired a career-high 17 straight batters between Ezequiel Tovar's one-out homer in the first and Tovar's walk leading off the seventh. Thairo Estrada chased Senga with an RBI single. Senzatela, the first pitcher to reach 10 losses this season, allowed seven runs in four innings. Key moment Soto's 404-foot blast was his first homer since May 9. The $765 million outfielder entered Saturday hitting just .143 with two extra-base hits in his previous 17 games. Key stat The Rockies haven't led at the completion of an inning since the first inning last Sunday, when they were ahead of the New York Yankees 2-1. Up next The series ends Sunday with Mets RHP Clay Holmes (5-3, 2.98 ERA) opposing Rockies LHP Carson Palmquist (0-3, 8.78 ERA).
Associated Press
6 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Juan Soto ends home run drought and Mets hand Rockies another series loss with 8-2 win
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto hit his first homer in more than three weeks and the New York Mets sent the Colorado Rockies to another series loss with an 8-2 win on Saturday. The Rockies, whose 9-49 record is the worst in the modern era through 58 games, are the first team in history to open a season with 19 straight series losses. Colorado has lost a major league-record 22 straight series dating back to last September. Brett Baty had a bases-clearing triple off Antonio Senzatela (1-10) in a four-run first inning, which Tyrone Taylor capped with a single. Brandon Nimmo and Soto homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth. Soto was serenaded with chants of 'JUAN SO-TO' from fans in the right field seats in the top of the fifth, when he turned and raised his arms in acknowledgment. Jeff McNeil homered in the eighth. Kodai Senga (6-3) allowed two runs on two hits over 6 2/3 innings. He retired a career-high 17 straight batters between Ezequiel Tovar's one-out homer in the first and Tovar's walk leading off the seventh. Thairo Estrada chased Senga with an RBI single. Senzatela, the first pitcher to reach 10 losses this season, allowed seven runs in four innings. Key moment Soto's 404-foot blast was his first homer since May 9. The $765 million outfielder entered Saturday hitting just .143 with two extra-base hits in his previous 17 games. Key stat The Rockies haven't led at the completion of an inning since the first inning last Sunday, when they were ahead of the New York Yankees 2-1. Up next The series ends Sunday with Mets RHP Clay Holmes (5-3, 2.98 ERA) opposing Rockies LHP Carson Palmquist (0-3, 8.78 ERA). ___ AP MLB:
