The Amazins - MLB The Show

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The Amazins

Brewers Salvage Finale Thanks To Long Ball
June 26, 2030

The Mets claimed the first two games against the lowly Brewers before their bats were held in check in the finale.

Lucas Giolito turned in his second gem in a row - this time going for the complete game shutout. The veteran only allowed 4 scattered hits all game and struck out 4 on his way to his best start in a Mets uniform. The Mets would score 7 in the game, including a Luke Wray HR - his 4th in 5 games. The veteran catcher seems to have completely shaken off the funk he had been in early this season and has completely retaken the reps at catcher from Roosevelt Fox.

The Mets did all of their damage in the first inning of Game 2. They scored all 5 of their runs before the Brewers ever came to bat. It would be enough for the win as Jeremy Pacheco gave up only 2 runs over 6 innings. The Mets runs came via a 2-run double from Michael Conforto and a 3-run blast from none other than... Luke Wray!! He is up to 14 HR on the year and is on a torrid stretch at the plate right now. Donald Beals would lock down the 9th and a 5-2 Mets win.

In the finale, the Mets jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind an RBI double from Jackie Maurer and a solo shot from Alexis Quevedo. However, that would be all as the bats were kept quiet the rest of the game, only managing a handful of hits over the 9 innings. Anderson Espinoza was cruising until the 5th inning when 2B Carlton Buck took him deep to cut the lead in half. In the next inning, LF Rick Louis would go yard as well - a 2-run bomb to right center that got us to our final.

Former Met Oliver Panaigua was held hitless in the series.

New York (58-26) heads to Chicago to face the Cubs (48-36), who have lost 4 straight - including a sweep at the hands of the Yankees. Despite their recent skid, the Cubs are one of the best teams in the NL and a legitimate threat to the Mets.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Split in Chicago
June 30, 2030

The Mets won the first two before dropping the last two games in Chicago to split with the Cubs this week to end the month of June.

Game 1 was the Alexis Quevedo show. The left fielder continues to produce at an all-star level as he drove home 6 runs, including a bases clearing double in the 5th inning and a 3-run shot an inning later to make the score 8-1. After 7 innings of one run ball from Michael Whitehead, Jermaine Butler came in and gave up 3 ER, including a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th for a 8-4 final. Butler was optioned to Syracuse after the game. Lester McCarthy was recalled in his place.

The Mets followed that up with an 6-4 win in Game 2. It was a bullpen game from the Metsies as they tried to give their starters an extra day. Howard Sanchez was the only pitcher to surrender any runs, as Lincoln James threw scoreless innings in the start, and Lester McCarthy threw a scoreless 7th in his return to the big league club. The offense was paced by Luke Wray, who went deep twice, and Steven Logan, who wrapped a 3-run HR inside the right field foul pole. It was their 60th win, making them the first team in the majors to hit the mark.

In game 3, the Mets took a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the 9th but a mix of poor pitching and poor baserunning would be their demise. First, the Cubs forced extras on a solo shot to tie the game. Then in the top of the 10th, the Mets were thrown out at 3rd base twice due to terrible baserunning decisions. The Cubs would then manage to load the bases in the bottom of the 10th before Beals threw a literal backfoot slider and forced home the winning run.

The finale was another game lost in the late innings. Former Met Brett Durango hit a rocket into the stands in the bottom of the 8th to give the Cubbies a 2-1 lead - which would be the final. Nick Craven provided the only Mets run of the game with a leadoff HR - his first since June 9th.

New York (60-28) welcomes the Angels (39-47) to town as we enter July. The All Star Break is right around the corner.

Top Prospect Ullman Promoted to Syracuse

Management has seen enough from their prized prospect down in AA and want to push him to the highest level of the minors. Ullman has enjoyed a good year so far. He has a 3.09 ERA in 91 IP with 73K. He'll get his first taste of the AAA as the Mets hope he's ready to contribute in New York some time next season. The #2 prospect in all of baseball is inching closer to his debut.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Sweep, Finish 20 Game Stretch with 14-6 Record
July 3, 2030

The Mets had their way with the Angels this weekend, who will have quite a bit of thinking to do on their way back to LA. Especially their pitching staff, which surrendered 12 home runs over the course of the three games. Steven Logan hit 4 of them - giving him 35 this season, a Major League best.

The Mets used a 7-run 5th inning in Game 1 to break the game open and make it 9-2. Nick Craven punctuated the inning with a 3-run blast, his 18th on the year. The Angels would fight back, scratching across 5 runs against Jeremy Pacheco before he was removed from the game. Lester McCarthy would give up a solo shot that made the game 9-6, but that was as close as the visitors would get. New York would tack on 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to make it a 13-6 final.

Like in Game 1, the Angels would be the team to score first. Their lead would evaporate almost instantaneously. Corey Seager, Steven Logan, and Elvis Valido went back-to-back-to-back in the bottom of the 1st to make it 4-1 Mets. Roosevelt Fox would get in on the fun with his third home run of the year in the 4th inning to make it 10-1 Mets. The Angels would score two more in the 6th off Anderson Espinoza, but would get no closer. 10-3 Mets.

The finale was a 5-3 Mets win. Luke Wray opened the scoring with a screamer to left-center, and Elvis Valido went deep twice. Along with Logan, he also hit 4 homers in the series, giving him 25 on the year now. Both Cesar Ferreira and Donald Beals would give up runs in relief, both experiencing a rough patch currently - not ideal for the back of the bullpen. Michael Whitehead continues his brilliant season, giving up just one run over 7 innings.

The Amazins (63-28) get a day off before hosting the Cubbies (50-41). Chicago continues to struggle, having lost 9 of 11 and just having been swept by the Pirates.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Velazquez and McClendon Reinstated From IL
July 4, 2030

The Mets have made a couple of roster moves on our nation's birthday. Broderick McClendon is being sent to AAA Syracuse following his stay on the IL due to a concussion suffered on June 19th. He had actually been pitching better over his last couple starts, but the Mets have gotten through the gauntlet portion of their schedule with limited off days. Through 4 big league starts, McClendon pitched to a 7.50 ERA while striking out 12 in 18 IP. The Mets will return to a 5-man rotation for now.

In other news, Ray Velazquez will be returning to the lineup after a brief stint on the IL. His knee seems to be doing fine and he should be able to hit the ground running. Alfredo Diaz will be optioned back to AAA Syracuse.

After another couple weeks, it has become abundantly clear that Barney Nowak will be getting the majority of the ABs at third base over Jackie Maurer. Maurer continues to struggle in his first full time season in the majors, while Nowak is thriving. Maurer has a .648 OPS and is hitting below .230 with just 3 HR. Nowak has a .793 OPS, hitting .305, and has 9 HR and 38 RBI.

For a team that is looking to compete for a championship, Nowak is the obvious choice. Maurer will see his role evolve into a utility infielder, spelling second, short, and third base. He can also come in for defense late in games.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Swept For First Time This Year
July 7, 2030

For the first time all season, the Mets looked like a bad baseball team for an entire series. They didn't hit, and outside of Lucas Giolito in the middle game, they didn't pitch either. The Cubs handled them 18-4 over the three games.

Game 1 was a 7-1 loss. Steven Logan got the Mets on the board first with his 36th HR of the year, but that would be it for the day. Travis West went 5IP and gave up 3 runs, but the bullpen would get knocked around some as well. Namely, Lester McCarthy, who gave up 3 runs in the top of the 9th. McCarthy would be optioned to AAA Syracuse following the game with Otis Morgan being recalled.

Lucas Giolito was great in Game 2. He pitched 6 innings of 2 run ball, but the Mets offense was non-existent. Cubs starter, Mitch Hinson, left the game after two pitches due to a hamstring issue, which makes the one run produced by the Mets offense even more concerning. Steven Logan would go deep once again in the bottom of the 9th, but that's all the Mets could muster in a 2-1 loss.

The finale featured Jeremy Pacheco without his best stuff. He struggled through 3.2 IP, giving up 3 R and walking 3 batters while giving up 4 hits. The bullpen wasn't much better as both Cesar Ferreira and Howard Sanchez would get tagged for 3 runs. Otis Morgan would throw a scoreless 7th in his return to the ball club. Offensively, Jack O'Neil had a pinch-hit RBI single, and Elvis Valido cracked his 26th HR of the year in the 9-2 loss.

The Mets (63-31) hope to turn things around as they welcome the Braves (52-41) to town for the last series before the All Star Break. It's an important series as Atlanta looks to shrink the Mets' 10.5 game lead in the division.