DETROIT, MI – MAY 4: Justin Verlander #35 of the New York Mets watches from. the dugout during the sixth inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 4, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
While the New York Mets were swept by the Detroit Tigers, they did have one lone bright spot in the returning Justin Verlander.
The New York Mets are not having the best week. They had lost their series against the Atlanta Braves to start things off, and then they went to Detroit to face the Tigers. New York lost a doubleheader on Wednesday, which is the first time they had done so since the 2020 season, but had the chance to get in the win column on Thursday to avoid the sweep.
Unfortunately for the Mets, that didn’t happen for them, as they lost 2-0.
While it is hard to look for a bright spot in a series sweep, but there was one the Mets could take solace in. That bright spot is ace Justin Verlander looked pretty good in his very first start with the team.
Mets: Justin Verlander has promising debut with team
Verlander had missed the first month of the season after he picked up a low grade teres major strain, which is located in his throwing shoulder. But on the day of the game, Verlander was activated, and he was set to make his debut against his former team.;
The first inning was a bit rough for Verlander. Although he was able to get Zach McKinstry to fly out after four pitches thrown, Verlander surrendered back-to-back solo home runs to Riley Greene and Javier Baez to put the Mets in an early 2-0 hole.
Those were the last runs that Verlander would give up in the game. In the third inning, Verlander was in a jam after walking McKinstry and giving up a single to Greene, giving the Tigers two runners on. But Verlander was able to get out of it. He forced Baez to fly out, allowing McKinstry to advance to third base. And after a stolen base by Greene, Verlander struck out Nick Maton to get out of the inning.
Verlander pitched five full innings, where he recorded five strikeouts and one walk, while surrendering two earned runs on five hits. Verlander threw 79 pitches, 52 of which are strikes.
Yet, the Mets offense was silent once again, as they only mustered three hits in 28 at-bats. One of those hits was recorded in the bottom of the ninth inning by Brandon Nimmo, a single to be specific. However it was all for naught, as Nimmo was caught stealing second base for the second out of the inning. Starling Marte struck out swinging to end the game.
Verlander is on pace to pitch in the team’s May 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds. Mets fans have to be looking forward to the next start, especially by how well he was able to recover after two home runs in the top of the first inning.
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