The New York Mets knew Bo Bichette would break out of his first-series slump, and he did it with some timely hitting.
The New York Mets knew Bo Bichette would hit, and last night their new third baseman showed why they got him. Bichette scuffled in his opening series in New York, but it was really only a matter of time until he broke out at the plate.
It was Bichette’s big hit that sparked the Mets and broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in New York's 4-2 win. He smoked a single at 106.8 mph off the bat with two runners on, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, and it brought home Carson Benge to give the Mets a lead they extended with a two-run rally the following inning.
“I’m not surprised,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “I thought he was more under control, not trying to do too much. Even the one that he lined out to right field, that was a pretty good at-bat, too. That’s good to see. When he’s doing that, those are some good signs.”
Bichette is a tough out, and he nearly added a second hit with a hard line drive that was gloved by right fielder Jordan Walker, and he added an RBI in the first-inning ground out. That RBI came with a bit of luck when second baseman JJ Wetherholt couldn’t make the transfer to throw home, but it counts in the box score as part of a solid offensive start.
It’s going to be fun to watch Bichette when he gets hot, and it’s probably only a matter of time before that happens.
“I felt in a better place today, in a place to compete,” Bichette said. “I still need to get better and do a better job, but I felt more like myself today.”
Last night’s win was the kind of victory the Mets imagined when they cleaned house during the offseason and remade their lineup. It wasn’t a power-backed win, but the Mets played good, clean fundamental baseball, did a little bit of timely hitting and got excellent pitching throughout the game.
Clay Holmes continued the exemplary work of the Mets starters so far, giving up just two runs while going 5-2/3 innings. Tobias Harris looks like the kind of reliable swing man and setup reliever the Mets didn’t have in the second half of last season, and new closer Devin Williams got his first save after lefty reliever chipped in with a clean inning. The Mets need to get off to a good start this season, and so far they look more than capable of doing that.