After losing their first five games of the season, the New York Mets are riding a modest two-game winning streak going into the second game of the three-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
Both victories were by one run, and Pete Alonso was at the center of each triumph. He provided the game-tying, ninth-inning solo homer in a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, and he broke a 1-1 tie with a seventh-inning grounder in New York’s 3-2 victory over Cincinnati on Friday.
The Reds, meanwhile, wasted plentiful scoring opportunities on Friday, going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranding 12 runners in all, spoiling a strong six innings from starter Hunter Greene.
“We just didn’t get the hit in the big spot, and that’s how the game goes,” said Spencer Steer, whose homer gave the Reds an early 1-0 lead. “They did a good job with runners on base. We just didn’t come up with that big hit. As an offense, we’d like that one back, for sure.”
The Reds will send right-hander Nick Martinez (0-0, 5.40 ERA) to the mound on Saturday for his second start of the season.
On Sunday in his Cincinnati debut, Martinez was tagged for six hits and three runs in five innings against the Washington Nationals. He struck out three and walked one, winding up with a no-decision in a game the Reds won 6-5 on back-to-back, ninth-inning homers from Will Benson and Christian Encarnacion-Strand.
Martinez will be making his first career start against the Mets, as his four previous appearances vs. New York came in relief. He allowed three hits and one run over 3 2/3 innings in those outings, striking out four and walking two.
The Mets will counter with Luis Severino (0-1, 5.40 ERA), who will also be making his second start in a new uniform. In his Mets debut on March 30, the right-hander was charged with six runs — three earned — on 11 hits, including a home run. He fanned six without issuing a walk.
Severino owns a 1-0 record with a 3.29 ERA in three career starts against Cincinnati.
While making his season debut for the New York Yankees last May 21 in Cincinnati, Severino yielded one run on four hits over 4 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out five during a no-decision.
The injury-riddled Mets signed 33-year-old right-hander Julio Teheran on Friday. He could immediately joined a pitching staff that is without Kodai Senga (shoulder), Tylor Megill (shoulder), Max Kranick (hamstring) and David Peterson (hip surgery).
Teheran, once a top pitching prospect for the Braves, was available out of the bullpen on Friday and is scheduled to start against his former team on Monday in the opener of a four-game series in Atlanta.
“I’m really thinking it’s just going out there and giving it my best,” Teheran said. “Right now, I’m on this side, and obviously I want to give the team a chance to win.”
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, “This is a guy that’s been in the league for a long time. Last year, he was a big addition for the Brewers. Right now, we’re in a situation where we’re down a couple of starters, and he provides that.”
The Mets designated right-handed reliever Michael Tonkin for assignment to make room for Teheran on the active roster.
–Field Level Media
