Syndergaard puts aside talk, shines as Mets win 5th straight
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO (AP) - Noah Syndergaard thinks will remain with the New York Mets after Wednesday's trade deadline.
"I don't think anything is going to happen," he said after striking out 11 in Tuesday night's 5-2, 11-inning win over the Chicago White Sox.
Syndergaard put aside trade talk to turn an eighth-inning lead over to his relievers, and the Mets rebounded from another bullpen meltdown when Jeff McNeil and Michael Conforto hit consecutive home runs in the 11th.
In their first game since trading for All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman, the Mets extended a winning streak to five games for the first time since April 2018. After falling to 40-51, the Mets have won 11 of their last 15 games to move within the outer edge of the NL wild-card race.
Given a 2-0 lead, Syndergaard gave up an unearned run in the sixth when third baseman Todd Frazier bobbled José Abreu's two-out grounder, allowing Yolmer Sánchez to score. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed five hits in 7 1/3 innings.
New York dealt pitcher Jason Vargas to Philadelphia on Monday and there has been speculation Syndergaard or Zack Wheeler could be jettisoned. Syndergaard, not eligible for free agency until after the 2021 season, tweeted a GIF on Sunday of an actor who played Thor - his nickname - in a movie with the words "I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON" superimposed.
"It's always in the back of my mind. I try not to harp on things that are outside of my control," Syndergaard said. "It's getting kind of old."
He spoke with the Mets front office, leading him to have the belief he will not get dealt. He is encouraged that he is treated as "a hot commodity."
"I think tonight was probably the top it's felt for me mechanically," Syndergaard said.
Seth Lugo relieved with the bases loaded and got Abreu to ground in to an inning-ending double play.
Edwin Díaz then blew a save for the fifth time in 28 chances when he walked Ryan Goins leading off the ninth, threw a wild pitch as Eloy Jiménez struck out, hit James McCann with a pitch, threw another wild pitch, then allowed a sacrifice fly to Tim Anderson.
Amed Rosario singled off José Ruiz (1-2) leading off the 11th for his fourth hit, and McNeil greeted Josh Osich with his 11th home run - his first this year off a left-hander, The drive barely cleared the fence in right-center.
Conforto homered two pitches later, giving him home runs in three straight games.
Robert Gsellman (2-2) pitched perfect two innings. The Mets had lost their previous five extra-inning games since beating Detroit on May 25.
New York built its lead on RBI groundouts by Tomás Nido in the second and Robinson Canó in the fourth.
Chicago starter Reynaldo López allowed two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. The White Sox have lost six of seven. They were 41-42 before play on July 4 but are 5-16 since.
"Today was one of those days where I didn't' have my best stuff," López said. "It wasn't as good as it was in the last couple outings, but I was able to battle through that and keep the team in the game."
STROMAN
Stroman will make his debut for the Mets "sometime this weekend," manager Mickey Callaway said. The 28-year-old All-Star is expected to join his hometown team and throw a bullpen session on Wednesday.
ROTATON IN FLUX
As a contingency move in case they trade another starter, the Mets scratched veteran RHP Ervin Santana from a start with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday night. "It's just us making sure all bases are covered," Callaway said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mets: Callaway said he did not have test results on LF Dominic Smith.
White Sox: Anderson was activated from the 10-day IL (sprained right ankle) and was 0 for 3 in his first big league game since June 25. ... 3B Yoán Moncada came out after the first inning with right hamstring tightness.
UP NEXT
Mets RHP Jacob deGrom (6-7, 2.86) is scheduled to start Wednesday against White Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (11-5). DeGrom has a 17-inning scoreless streak. Giolito is 0-3 with a 7.06 ERA in his last four starts.