Mike's Mets - Wednesday Evening with Max

 

By Mike Steffanos

The Mets' decision to bump the rehabbing Scherzer's start back a day worked out well for this fortunate blogger.

When I heard the news that Max Scherzer was scheduled to pitch a rehab start in Harford, CT Tuesday night, I texted several friends to see if they wanted to go to the game with me. I live about 25 miles from Hartford. Unfortunately, by the time I found a willing accomplice, tickets to the game were sold out. I was disappointed but still wanted a chance to see Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty, and Ronny Mauricio in action, so I bought tickets for the Wednesday night game. As luck would have it, the Mets decided to move Scherzer's rehab start back a day, so I would be watching Max and the three prospects that evening.

Scherzer's first inning passed without drama:

In Hartford for Scherzer's rehab start. Not the best seats, but that speck in the distance is Max walking off after a 1-2-3 first inning pic.twitter.com/vpjD5p3j13

— Mike Steffanos (@MikeSteffanos) June 29, 2022

Max allowed his first baserunner on a 1-out single in the second inning. Scherzer wasn't making any attempt to hold the runner, so the runner stole second. Scherzer escaped any damage that frame by retiring the next two batters.

In the third inning, Francisco Álvarez lived up to all of his hype with this blast to LF:

Franciso Álvarez clears ... everything!

The top @Mets prospect goes deep for the 18th time for @RumblePoniesBB. pic.twitter.com/B9aYJmGsaI

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 29, 2022

Things got more interesting for Scherzer in the bottom of that frame. He allowed a 1-out double. He struck out the next guy for the second out, but the ball was in the dirt, and Álvarez had to throw the batter out at first base. The runner on second advanced to third on the throw but was stranded there when Scherzer retired the next batter for the final out.

Scherzer wasn't throwing his slider for strikes in that inning. He bounced a couple in the dirt. He got some swinging strikes on balls that major league hitters likely wouldn't swing at.

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