RADIO
Noah Syndergaard’s first major league start is complete. He got through 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on six hits, striking out six and walking four. He ended up taking the loss, as the Mets lost to the Cubs 6-1. Syndergaard threw 103 pitches, 56 for strikes.
"Thor" had started off great. He struck out Dexter Fowler to start off his MLB career, going five scoreless innings before the trouble began in the sixth. After giving up a leadoff single to Jorge Soler, Starlin Castro doubled to left field to drive him in. After a coaching visit, Syndergaard gave up a home run to Chris Coghlan on a 2-1 96 MPH fastball. Following a strikeout of opposing pitcher Jake Arrieta, Syndergaard was removed for reliever Alex Torres. Torres walked the bases loaded before giving up a single to Miguel Montero to drive in Dexter Fowler. A strikeout of Soler ended the inning.
Syndergaard had his third inning extended due to no fault of his own. With two outs, Kris Bryant hit a ground ball to third, and thanks to a soft throw by Daniel Murphy, Bryant beat the throw out. Syndergaard responded by walking Anthony Rizzo and Montero before Soler flew out to Curtis Granderson. This all accounted for an extra 18 pitches thrown that could have been avoided if Murphy had made the out.
Syndergaard averaged his fastball in the high 90’s on a cold 54 degree night in Chicago, reaching as high as 98 MPH. He was given no run support while he was on the mound. Through seven innings, the Mets lone hit on Arrieta was a one-out single by Murphy, which moved Granderson, who walked, to third. Michael Cuddyer responded by grounding into a 1-6-3 double play.
At the plate, Syndergaard went 0-2 with two strikeouts, both swinging.
In his first start of his career, Syndergaard was as good as you could expect. He did not seem to have any jitters, considering he was starting in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. His next start will be against the Brewers over the weekend at Citi Field. With Dillon Gee’s DL stint not likely to be much more than the minimum 15 days, ‘Thor" will need to bring the hammer in his remaining starts to perhaps stay in the rotation and avoid being sent back down to the minor leagues.
