Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s ninth-inning double gives Blue Jays win over Mets
The Mets weren’t able to carry over the joy and excitement of Saturday’s Hall of Fame induction after losing its second straight game, 2-1, to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Immediately after Blue Jays manager John Schneider was ejected for arguing a strike call, Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s RBI double gave Toronto the go-ahead run that led to a win.
Manager Buck Showalter said he trusted reliever David Robertson to get Guerrero out to end the inning. The manager said he “considered” walking the slugger with Cavan Biggio on deck, who entered Saturday with a .181 batting average.
Robertson was ahead, 1-2, in the count but the two-time All-Star reached over to hit a grounder past a diving Bretty Baty at third base.
“Just trusted Robbie there,” the manager said postgame. He later went on to say “I just have a lot of confidence in him once he got ahead there … just got a firm ground ball hit where we couldn’t catch it.”
Robertson said postgame that his curveball thrown to Guerrero didn’t get down in the dirt as he would’ve liked.
“I just didn’t make a good finishing pitch. He’s a good hitter,” Robertson said. “Wish I could’ve gotten it down a little more and maybe get a swing and miss or at least a softer ground ball maybe something Baty could field.”
Tylor Megill got the start for the Mets and allowed just one run, five hits, five walks and struck out five in 5.1 innings of work. His lone run came in the sixth inning on an Alejandro Kirk infield single that shortstop Francisco Lindor couldn’t handle, scoring Brandon Belt.
Megill started the game in some trouble in the first after allowing two singles to George Springer and Bo Bichette. Megill also gave up a walk in the frame but he got out of it unscathed after 18 pitches.
“I felt like my stuff today was good,” Megill said postgame. [I] attacked hitters. Obviously a few walks but [with] two strikes seemed like a lot of close pitches.”
Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios also gave up just one run on Saturday. Daniel Vogelbach’s RBI double to center scored Starling Marte to put the Mets up 1-0 in the second. The hit snapped an 0-for-9 skid entering the game. He was also hitting .125 with runners in scoring position before getting the hit to score Marte.
Berrios’ day was up after six innings of work. He allowed four hits, one earned run, three walks and struck out six hitters.
Lindor went 0-for-4 on the night but came up with a clutch play of defense to keep the score tied. He threw pinch-runner Biggio out at home on a fielder’s choice to get the second out of the inning. Robertson then struck out Kirk to end the frame.
Lindor’s hitless night makes him 0-for-15 in his last few games. His last hit came in a 4-1 win against the Phillies on May 31.
The shortstop heard boos from the crowd during the game and said he’s mutually as frustrated as the fans with the last few outings.
“They’re expressing their frustration. And I hear them, I hear them,” he said. “I’m right there with them. It’s got to get better.”
Lindor’s opportunity in the fifth gave him a chance to stretch his team’s lead to two but he ended up striking out. The extra run would’ve been valuable in a game that was decided by just one.
“These past two games, I haven’t gotten it done with people on base,” Lindor said.
He later added “If we would’ve gotten the W today, I would feel much better.”
The two teams will be back in action on Sunday. Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (4.47 ERA) will take the mound against right-hander Kodai Senga (3.44 ERA).
()