Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a stunning homer off an otherwise dominant Jacob deGrom, Trevor Rogers beat the two-time Cy Young Award winner for the second time and the Miami Marlins blanked the New York Mets 3-0 Saturday.
DeGrom matched a career best with 14 strikeouts over eight innings, Rogers fanned 10 in six and the teams combined for 28 overall.
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Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a stunning homer off an otherwise dominant Jacob deGrom, Trevor Rogers beat the two-time Cy Young Award winner for the second time and the Miami Marlins blanked the New York Mets 3-0 Saturday.
A 2017 first-round draft pick, Rogers cruised in his third career outing against New York. He scattered three hits and two walks, retiring 11 straight in one stretch.
DeGrom (0-1) looked unhittable early — until Chisholm barreled a 100.4 mph, 0-2 fastball thrown above the strike zone in the second inning. The left-handed hitter's drive reached the second deck in right field and was estimated at 402 feet.
New York closer Edwin Díaz relieved deGrom and struggled. Starling Marte hit a leadoff double and scored the next at-bat on a single by Jesús Aguilar. Rojas added an RBI single before Díaz was pulled and booed off the mound.
The 32-year-old deGrom looks better than ever in his eighth major league season. Not only is he averaging 99 mph with his fastball — up from 94 mph when he debuted in 2014 — he’s throwing it with more “rise,” too. The pitch is dropping one inch less on average than it did in 2020, making it look to batters like it’s moving up in the strike zone as it approaches.
SHORT ARMED
The 23-year-old Rogers (1-1) outpitched deGrom for the second time in nine major league starts. The left-hander got his first big league win against him in a 5-3 victory last Aug. 31. This was his second.
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
A 2017 first-round draft pick, Rogers cruised in his third career outing against New York. He scattered three hits and two walks, retiring 11 straight in one stretch.
Rogers mixed a fastball averaging 95 mph with a slider and changeup, inducing 19 swing-and-misses among his 82 pitches. He ended his outing with strikeouts of Michael Conforto and Pete Alonso, stranding two runners to preserve a 1-0 lead.
Dylan Floro followed with a perfect seventh, Richard Bleier was helped by shortstop Miguel Rojas' diving catch to rob pinch-hitter Kevin Pillar during a 1-2-3 eighth, and Yimi García completed the three-hitter for his first save, spelling struggling closer Anthony Bass.
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom gets set to throw in the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
DeGrom (0-1) looked unhittable early — until Chisholm barreled a 100.4 mph, 0-2 fastball thrown above the strike zone in the second inning. The left-handed hitter's drive reached the second deck in right field and was estimated at 402 feet.
It was the first 0-2 homer deGrom has allowed in the majors.
That was all Miami could muster against deGrom. The right-hander reached 14 strikeouts for the fourth time — including three times against the Marlins. He allowed a run, five hits, walked none and threw 76 of his 95 pitches for strikes.
New York Mets' Jacob deGrom reacts after hitting an infield single off Miami Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
New York closer Edwin Díaz relieved deGrom and struggled. Starling Marte hit a leadoff double and scored the next at-bat on a single by Jesús Aguilar. Rojas added an RBI single before Díaz was pulled and booed off the mound.
Mets fans also jeered Conforto, who struck out three times to extend a slump to start what could be his final season in New York. The right fielder is set to become a free agent in the fall.
DEGROMINANT
New York Mets' Michael Conforto (30) reacts after striking out with a runner in scoring position against Miami Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
The 32-year-old deGrom looks better than ever in his eighth major league season. Not only is he averaging 99 mph with his fastball — up from 94 mph when he debuted in 2014 — he’s throwing it with more “rise,” too. The pitch is dropping one inch less on average than it did in 2020, making it look to batters like it’s moving up in the strike zone as it approaches.
DeGrom punched out at least 10 hitters for the 47th time, passing Dwight Gooden for second most in Mets history, trailing only Tom Seaver’s 60.
New York starters have turned in four quality starts in the team’s first five games.
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers, right, fields and infield single hit by New York Mets' Jacob deGrom, left, in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
SHORT ARMED
Mets acting general manager Zack Scott said several players have been vaccinated, but the team hasn't reached the 85% threshold set by MLB to begin easing some health and safety protocols.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Miami Marlins' Starling Marte, right, steals second against New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil, left, in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
Marlins: C Jorge Alfaro was scratched from the lineup shortly before first pitch with tightness in his left hamstring. The issue also kept him out of Thursday's game. Chad Wallach started instead.
Mets: 3B J.D. Davis was placed on the 10-day injured list shortly before first pitch with a bruised left hand. Davis was hit by a pitch Tuesday and hasn't played since. The move is retroactive to April 7. ... INF José Peraza was selected to the big league roster and active for the game. RHP Franklyn Kilome was designated for assignment.
UP NEXT
The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday. New York will start RHP Marcus Stroman (1-0, 1.50), who looked sharp in his season debut against Philadelphia. Miami was waiting to see how Saturday's game played out before determining a starter for Sunday.
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