Following their run to the National League pennant, the Mets entered this season shouldering outsized expectations. They responded with one of the best opening months in franchise history.
The Mets put a dramatic end to their April, hanging on for their eighth straight win, 6-5 over the Giants on Saturday behind another brilliant afternoon from Michael Conforto.
While this era of heightened expectations has been dominated by talk of the Mets’ young arms, Conforto has emerged as their very own hitting prodigy. He went 3-for-4 with a two-run double and a solo shot.
In the 14 games since he was elevated into the third spot in the lineup, the 23-year-old Conforto is hitting .407/.450/.796 with four homers and 15 RBIs. He equalled a career-best with three RBIs on Saturday and has reached base in 17 straight games, the longest stretch of his career.
Meanwhile, Conforto has doubled in six straight games, equalling a franchise record.
Neil Walker added a two-run double of his own and the slumping Wilmer Flores bashed a solo shot in the sixth. With that home run, the Mets tied a franchise record with 33 April round-trippers, last accomplished in 2006.
Jacob deGrom allowed three runs — though none of them were earned — in six innings. DeGrom’s velocity appeared slightly improved but he walked four after having allowed no free passes in his first two starts.
Flores committed a costly throwing error in the third, opening the door for the Giants to score three unearned runs.
Nevertheless, deGrom departed with a 6-3 lead, which the Mets bullpen narrowly avoided squandering in the eighth.
Addison Reed had bailed the Mets out of a jam the previous inning. But he began the eighth with a walk to Matt Duffy, a single to Buster Posey and another walk to Brandon Belt before giving way to Hansel Robles.
Hunter Pence scared a gathering of 44,466 — the largest regular-season crowd in Citi Field’s history — with a deep fly ball that sent centerfielder Juan Lagares scurrying to the warning track.
The near grand slam turned into a sacrifice fly.
Brandon Crawford followed with another scare, this time sending a deep fly ball to rightcenter that required a leaping grab from Curtis Granderson. But the drive went for another sacrifice fly.
Two batters later, lefty specialist Jerry Blevins ended the threat, getting pinch hitter Gregor Blanco to ground out and strand a pair of baserunners.
In the ninth, closer Jeurys Familia recorded his eighth save of the season, officially ending what has been a banner month.
After stumbling to a nerve-rattling 2-5 start to the year, the Mets ended April with a 15-7 mark, right on the heels of the Nationals in the NL East.
With eight straight wins, the Mets own the longest active winning streak in the major leagues. After failing to win any of their first three series, they have reeled off five straight series wins.
For the first time since 2010, the Mets have beaten the Giants in a series at Citi Field. They go for a sweep on Sunday against Madison Bumgarner.
For just the eighth time in franchise history, the Mets have 15 victories in the season’s opening month. Their .682 winning percentage in April is the third best in team history.
..... - Newsday