PHILADELPHIA — It was Christian Javier’s masterpiece however in fact, an ex-Met made a cameo.
The Houston Astros threw a mixed no-hitter in a 5-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series on Wednesday evening at Citizens Bank Park with Javier throwing the primary six innings. The sequence is now tied 2-2.
But in a sequence plagued by former Mets, it was becoming that one performed a task.
Manager Dusty Baker was in a tricky spot with Javier at 97 pitches by way of six innings. He went to right-hander Bryan Abreu for the seventh inning and former Mets’ right-hander Rafael Montero for the eighth. Montero struck out the aspect to protect the no-hitter. Ryan Pressly retired the aspect within the ninth to assist the Astros full the third no-hitter in postseason historical past.
“You don’t want to bring a guy out of the bullpen in that situation with a guy on base, so I wanted a fresh arm,” Baker mentioned. “Our guys have been rested. Our guys hadn’t pitched in a couple days, our back end of the bullpen guys. So it’s always tough to take a guy out, but you have to weigh the no-hitter and history versus trying to win this game and get back to 2-2 in the World Series.”
Montero is yet one more acquainted face from an period through which the Mets drastically underperformed regardless of a need to contend. Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler, two of the Mets’ “Five Aces” will pitch in Games 5 and 6.
Montero was a highly-ranked prospect that by no means figured it out with the group that signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2011. He fell into a well-recognized sample with the Mets, dominating minor-league pitching however struggling on the big-league degree. The right-hander would pound the zone in spring coaching video games and Triple-A video games however nibble across the corners within the huge leagues. And when he nibbled, he acquired beat.
Montero went 6-16 with a 5.38 ERA in 58 video games (30 begins) with the Mets from 2014-2017 and he ceaselessly shuttled backwards and forwards from Triple-A. He underwent Tommy John surgical procedure within the spring of 2018 and have become a free agent after the season after refusing a minor league project.
Every group’s worst nightmare is a prospect going elsewhere and flourishing, however that’s precisely what occurred when he went to the Texas Rangers in 2019. Eventually, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners after which the Houston Astros final season. He seemed to be regressing with the Mariners, however the Astros noticed a very good fastball and a changeup, two pitches he wasn’t utilizing ceaselessly.
A former AL scout mentioned the Mariners had misplaced a lot confidence in Montero they even requested him to cease throwing his changeup. But Houston knew they may get him as a throw-in piece within the Kendall Graveman commerce and faucet into his upside in the event that they used him appropriately.
Now 32 years outdated and being utilized in a means that’s extra advantageous, he’s throwing his curveball for outs and has an improved fastball. He’s been a key piece for the Astros within the postseason out of the bullpen, having solely allowed one earned run over 9 innings.
Just so as to add to the Amazin’ Mets ties within the sequence, this identical Phillies squad was no-hit by the Mets earlier this season. Tylor Megill and 4 relievers mixed for the April 29 win.
“We were no-hit earlier in the year in New York against the Mets and we came back the next day and won,” Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned. “So these guys, they got a short memory. They’re going to go home tonight. They’re going to go to bed and come back in here tomorrow and prep and compete like they always do.”
This got here one evening after the Phillies hit a document 5 residence runs in a 7-0 win. The bats went from scorching sizzling to ice chilly in what appeared like an prompt, displaying simply how shortly a sequence can flip.
“This is a daily game filled with daily emotions,” Baker mentioned.
Even after they’re out of motion, the Mets at all times discover a means into the historical past books.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com