A possible pitcher’s duel between former Yankees teammates as an alternative became survival of the fittest.
Luis Severino wasn’t as sharp Friday as he ceaselessly has been for the Mets, however he discovered the right way to be higher than counterpart Jordan Montgomery, whose ugly begin to the season and much more disastrous monitor document at Citi Subject each continued in his new Diamondbacks uniform.
The Mets, who signed Severino however didn’t get entangled in Montgomery’s surprisingly tepid free-agent market over the offseason, shelled the left-hander for eight runs on 9 hits over 4 innings in a 10-9 victory.
“I really feel like my sinker has simply turn out to be BP [batting practice] proper now,” Montgomery mentioned. “I’ve to discover a solution to get it to maneuver and be down within the zone. I really feel like I’m simply throwing and never even pitching anymore.”
It was clear from the onset that this was not going to be an ode to both pitcher’s finest days in The Bronx, the place they have been a part of the identical rotation at occasions from 2017-21.
The Mets answered the Diamondbacks’ three-run first inning with a go-ahead four-run rally of their very own.
“Tonight, best-case situation is a 1-0 recreation and we win,” Montgomery mentioned. “I at all times need the very best for Sevy — to be wholesome. I’m at all times rooting for him when he’s not pitching in opposition to us.”
Just one pitcher form of settled in from there — and the Mets’ bullpen practically choked it away by permitting 4 ninth-inning runs.
“The [hitters] got here scorching and backed me up there,” Severino mentioned. “I wish to throw a shutout, too, however I used to be preventing at present.”
Severino (3-2) retired the facet so as within the second and fourth innings and labored out of a two-on, two-out jam within the fifth as his velocity elevated, permitting the Mets to construct an 8-4 lead.
He was eliminated with one out within the sixth after his 97th pitch was rotated for a solo house run by Eugenio Suarez.
“I used to be feeling a bit down the primary couple innings, a bit like … low power,” mentioned Severino, who refueled within the second inning with what he described as energy-boosting honey snacks. “It bought me method higher after that.”
Montgomery, who was a postseason star for the 2023 World Collection champion Rangers, hasn’t but discovered a groove after lacking spring coaching.
He surrendered Starling Marte’s three-run triple, RBI doubles by Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, and RBI singles to Marte and Mark Vientos, elevating his profession ERA in three begins at Citi Subject to 16.75.
“I really feel like each time I’m right here I quit a stinker,” Montgomery mentioned. “I’ve simply bought to be higher. No excuses.”
Montgomery (3-3) owns a 5.48 ERA in eight begins whereas pitching on a one-year, $25 million contract — about double the one-year, $13 million that Severino accepted after an injury-plagued end to his Yankees profession.
It was simply the third time in 11 begins that Severino has allowed greater than three earned runs (5), however all three are since Might 5.
