(SportsNetwork.com) – Jacob deGrom equaled a modern-day major league record by
striking out the first eight batters to open the contest against the Miami
Marlins on September 15 last season. The Mets right-hander aims to continue
his success versus Miami when New York hosts the third installment of this
four- game series Saturday night.
Despite striking out a career-high 13 batters in that September meeting,
deGrom didn’t get a decision in the Mets’ 6-5 loss. Houston Astros pitcher
Jim Deshaies is the only other pitcher in major league history with eight
consecutive strikeouts to start a game, and that happened
on September 23, 1986 against the Dodgers.
Both deGrom and Deshaies accomplished this feat in their rookie seasons.
Last season, deGrom went 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four starts against the
Marlins.
In his most recent start, Monday against the Phillies, deGrom, the reigning NL
Rookie of the Year, picked up his first win of the season, allowing seven
hits, striking out three and walking one over 6 1/3 innings. He has tossed 11
1/3 straight scoreless innings, dating to his first start of the season.
In 11 career starts at Citi Field, Latos is 6-3 with a 1.56 ERA.
Mat Latos has struggled immensely in his first two starts in a Marlins
uniform. The right-hander, who is playing under a 1-year, $9.4 million
contract, has lasted just 4 2/3 innings over his first two starts of 2015. On
Monday against Atlanta, he allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits
and three walks with five strikeouts over four-plus innings.
In eight career starts against the Mets, Latos is 2-3 with a 2.54 ERA.
On Friday, Bartolo Colon tossed seven solid innings of one-run ball in New
York’s 4-1 win.
Colon’s (3-0) lone run allowed came on a Giancarlo Stanton homer in the first
inning. He settled down to scatter just five more hits the rest of his outing
to go with five strikeouts for the Mets, who have won six straight.
“We’re very excited about the way we’ve started,” New York manager Terry
Collins said.
Michael Cuddyer went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Jeurys Familia
fired a scoreless ninth for his fifth save of the season.
Stanton’s blast to dead center was the fifth straight game he’s homered
against the Mets.
“Other than Giancarlo’s home run we just couldn’t get anything going,” Marlins
manager Mike Redmond said.
Miami has dropped five of its last seven games.
