Herrera, deGrom lift Mets over Orioles
NEW YORK -- The Mets took a two-game series from the Orioles thanks to a breakout game from second baseman Dilson Herrera, who tied a career high with three hits -- including a two-run homer -- to seal Wednesday's 5-1 win.
Herrera, who entered the game batting .077, drove in three runs, and Curtis Granderson delivered a solo shot in the third inning and drove in a run in the fourth. The offense backed a strong seven-inning outing by Jacob deGrom, who struck out nine and held Baltimore to one run.
Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez lasted four innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Herrera's homer: In the sixth inning, Herrera rocketed a 1-1 fastball from reliever Brad Brach off the railing just behind the left-field fence, scoring Wilmer Flores. It was Herrera's first homer since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
"When they get up here, you have to play them and see what happens -- see if they can figure stuff out on their own," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We saw he has the power to do big damage." More >
deGrom bounces back: deGrom stranded seven baserunners, including two in the fifth inning, when he struck out Chris Davis with runners on first and third and the Mets holding a two-run lead. deGrom experienced his only hiccup that inning, surrendering two hits and a walk and hitting a batter, but he came back to strike out Davis with a 3-2 slider.
Video: BAL@NYM: deGrom fans Davis to escape trouble
"He continues to make adjustments, which we know he's very capable of doing," said Collins. "Today we needed him, and he stepped up and got outs for us." More >
O's woes at Citi: Baltimore is 0-5 at Citi Field and has lost eight consecutive games to the Mets. The Orioles, fresh off taking two of three from the Rays, struggled to put together any offense and watched their streak of eight starts of six or more innings halted with Jimenez's outing.
Everth Cabrera ran into a big out in the fifth inning, getting caught off the third-base bag and blocked by Daniel Murphy on his way back. After deGrom fielded a dribbler by Alejandro De Aza, he turned and fired to Murphy to cut down the lead runner for the inning's second out. Jimmy Paredes singled in a run in the following at-bat, a ball that could have easily scored two. More >
Video: BAL@NYM: deGrom catches Cabrera off of third
"We just haven't played well. ... We haven't swung the bats well," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "There are some things in the middle of the diamond we're not doing very well. Defensively, we've got to get better."
QUOTABLE
"It just seems like every time we get a start that keeps us within the game, we just can't push that big hit across." -- Baltimore's Caleb Joseph
"He's got a good enough fastball, and we all know that. But you can't live and die with the fastball ... unless you're Bartolo." -- Collins, on deGrom
REPLAY REVIEW
Herrera's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth was originally ruled in play, but the call was overturned after a review of 33 seconds.
WHAT'S NEXT
Orioles: The O's will remain in New York and shift to the Bronx, where they will take on the Yankees in a four-game set that starts on Thursday at 7:05 p.m ET. Opening Day starter Chris Tillman will take the mound.
Mets: The Mets will enjoy an off-day on Thursday before traveling to Philadelphia, where Matt Harvey takes the mound on Friday night at 7:05 ET to start a three-game series. Harvey is looking to become the first pitcher in the Majors to six wins.
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