Jacob deGrom settled down after a 29-pitch first inning to throw seven innings of two-run ball in during Tuesday’s night Game 3 win against the Cubs in the NLCS at Wrigley Field.
DeGrom struck out seven batters and allowed four hits as the Mets drew within one game of the World Series. He threw 66 of his 100 pitches for strikes.
“Just like the closeout game in L.A., Jake probably didn’t have his best stuff, his best command, or his best fastball,” David Wright said after the game. “But, he found a way to win, and that is the biggest compliment you can give a starting pitcher is when they don’t have their best stuff they figure out a way to give you seven innings of two-run ball.”
DeGrom surrendered a solo home run to Kyle Schwarber in the first inning and allowed back-to-back two-strike singles to Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro before getting Jorge Soler to ground out to end the inning.
“I don’t know why the first inning has been so tough for me,” said deGrom, who retired the last 11 batters he faced. “The last thing I want to do – when our guys go out there and put up a run – is to give it right back up.”
Terry Collins said he chose not to send deGrom out for the eighth inning so he could be well-rested for a potential Game 7.
“We’ve got to bring him back in five days,” Collins said. “If we’ve got to go to Game 7, he’ll be ready for it.”
Matthew Cerrone
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DeGrom is the most disciplined pitcher on the Mets, and it’s why he’s their best one. He missed up and out against Schwarber, who, with a casual swing, mashed the ball four rows deep to left field. I actually thought it was a pop up to shortstop given the his swing, yet it ended up a home run. He’s got incredible power. However, just as amazing as Schwarber’s power is deGrom’s ability to adjust, have the stuff to charge on and be disciplined enough to make only one other mistake the rest of the game. I think Schwarber’s home run woke up deGrom, because afterward, he pounded the lower third of the strike zone, used his change-up to get swings and misses and had Chicago guessing all night. DeGrom left one other pitch up, which Soler took deep. Otherwise, as he did in Game 5 in the NLDS, deGrom did what he had to do to get by. It’s remarkable.
By the way, yes, the Mets have velocity. Yes, their starting pitchers can all throw in the upper 90s, which is impressive. However, it should be noted they also all have outstanding secondary pitches. It’s easy to say a pitcher must adjust, but he has to have something to use to make those adjustments when the fastball isn’t working. Each Met has it and deGrom exemplifies that ability.
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