DeGrom dominates after shoulder scare, Mets beat Braves 4-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom shouldered the load for New York in his return from another injury scare, pitching one-hit ball over five scoreless innings as the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 Monday to open a doubleheader.

DeGrom (7-2) didn't allow a hit in the seven-inning game until Mets outfielders misplayed a fly ball with two outs in the fifth, letting it fall for a ground-rule double. DeGrom threw 70 pitches, 15 of them over 100 mph, with two walks and six strikeouts — a comfort for fans concerned about New York's ace after his last start was cut short by shoulder soreness.

Jeff McNeil came off the injured list and singled as a pinch-hitter for deGrom during New York's three-run fifth inning. He scored on Dominic Smith's three-run double.

Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer off reliever Seth Lugo for the Braves, who had won three of four but were playing their second doubleheader in two days. Kyle Muller (0-1) pitched one-hit ball over four innings, leaving with a 1-0 deficit in his first big league start.

Mets closer Edwin Díaz finished up the two-hitter, pitching the seventh for his 15th save in 16 chances.

DeGrom has thrown 30 consecutive scoreless innings, 2 2/3 shy of R.A. Dickey’s franchise record set in 2012. His 0.50 ERA is the lowest by a pitcher through 12 starts in major league history. Opponents are hitting .113 against him, the lowest average against any pitcher in a 12-game span since at least 1901, with a minimum 70 innings.

The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner came out firing in his first start following his 33rd birthday, after his previous two outings were cut short by arm trouble. The right-hander was pulled after three perfect innings against the Cubs last Wednesday with shoulder soreness, and he left the outing prior to that June 11 against...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/DeGrom-dominates-after-shoulder-scare-Mets-beat-16263746.php