Jacob deGrom pitched seven sharp innings and Pete Alonso put the New York Mets ahead with a two-run single in a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.
Alonso got three hits and snapped a 1-all tie with two outs in the seventh when he rolled a bases-loaded grounder up the middle. Juan Lagares, who also had three hits, added an RBI triple in the eighth.
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Jacob deGrom pitched seven sharp innings and Pete Alonso put the New York Mets ahead with a two-run single in a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.
Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner, deGrom (8-7) gave up one run and three hits while striking out five. Since the All-Star break, he has permitted just five earned runs in 45 innings for a 1.00 ERA.
With the runners going on a full-count pitch, Alonso then fisted a grounder up the middle to drive in Lagares and Altherr for a 3-1 lead. Second baseman Whit Merrifield made a sliding stop in shallow center and fired home to try to get Altherr, but Hill cut off the throw.
Junis dealt with traffic on the basepaths all night, but managed to work around seven hits, all singles, a walk and two hit batters to allow just three runs in 6 1/3 innings. His defense turned two double plays behind him to help him out of jams in the second and fifth, but the Royals' bullpen couldn't finish off the seventh inning for him.
Mets catcher Wilson Ramos singled twice to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, tied with Cincinnati's Jose Iglesias for the longest active streak in the majors. During the streak, Ramos is batting .477 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. ... It was the 16th consecutive start in which deGrom allowed three runs or fewer, dating to May 22. He has a 1.92 ERA in that span, but the Mets are just 7-9 in those games.
Mets: Placed reliever Robert Gsellman on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday, with tightness in his right triceps. RHP Walker Lockett was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. Lockett has started four games for the Mets this season, going 1-1 with a 7.79 ERA. ... Davis was out of the starting lineup after leaving Friday night's game with calf tightness. He said he felt fine and it was just a precautionary measure.
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The bottom three batters in New York's lineup went 5 for 11 and combined to score all four runs.
New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a two-run single during the seventh inning of the team's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner, deGrom (8-7) gave up one run and three hits while striking out five. Since the All-Star break, he has permitted just five earned runs in 45 innings for a 1.00 ERA.
Royals starter Jakob Junis (8-11) allowed a one-out single to Lagares in the seventh and hit No. 9 batter Aaron Altherr with a pitch. Kansas City manager Ned Yost brought in Jake Newberry, who walked Amed Rosario to load the bases.
Yost again went to his bullpen, this time to submarine left-hander Tim Hill. He struck out pinch-hitter J.D. Davis on three pitches, but couldn't finish off Alonso. The rookie slugger narrowly missed a grand slam down the right field line when a crew chief review determined the ball sliced just foul, upholding the initial call on the field.
New York Mets' Aaron Altherr slides home to score on a two-run single by Pete Alonso during the seventh inning of the team's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
With the runners going on a full-count pitch, Alonso then fisted a grounder up the middle to drive in Lagares and Altherr for a 3-1 lead. Second baseman Whit Merrifield made a sliding stop in shallow center and fired home to try to get Altherr, but Hill cut off the throw.
In the bottom half, deGrom got out of trouble with the help of a double-play ball. Lagares' triple in the eighth drove in Luis Guillorme.
Justin Wilson threw a scoreless inning and Seth Lugo worked a perfect ninth for his third save.
New York Mets celebrate after a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. The Mets won 4-1. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Junis dealt with traffic on the basepaths all night, but managed to work around seven hits, all singles, a walk and two hit batters to allow just three runs in 6 1/3 innings. His defense turned two double plays behind him to help him out of jams in the second and fifth, but the Royals' bullpen couldn't finish off the seventh inning for him.
Hunter Dozier had two of Kansas City's three hits, his second straight multihit game.
STATS AND STREAKS
Kansas City Royals right fielder Hunter Dozier can't catch an RBI triple by New York Mets' Juan Lagares during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Mets catcher Wilson Ramos singled twice to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, tied with Cincinnati's Jose Iglesias for the longest active streak in the majors. During the streak, Ramos is batting .477 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. ... It was the 16th consecutive start in which deGrom allowed three runs or fewer, dating to May 22. He has a 1.92 ERA in that span, but the Mets are just 7-9 in those games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (left hamstring strain) will throw a four-inning simulated game Tuesday and, if all goes well, could be activated from the injured list next weekend.
New York Mets' Juan Lagares celebrates on third base after hitting an RBI triple during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Mets: Placed reliever Robert Gsellman on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday, with tightness in his right triceps. RHP Walker Lockett was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. Lockett has started four games for the Mets this season, going 1-1 with a 7.79 ERA. ... Davis was out of the starting lineup after leaving Friday night's game with calf tightness. He said he felt fine and it was just a precautionary measure.
UP NEXT
Glenn Sparkman (3-8) faces Mets RHP Zack Wheeler (9-7) in the finale of the three-game interleague series Sunday.
Kansas City Royals' Alex Gordon beats the tag by New York Mets third baseman Todd Frazier to advance to third on a single by Hunter Dozier during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jakob Junis throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the New York Mets on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)