PHILADELPHIA — If Tylor Megill’s first terrific start of the season was just a trial-run against a rebuilding Nationals team, then his second outing of the year against a loaded Phillies lineup was a big test. Megill, again unflappable, passed with flying colors.
The young right-hander picked up where he left off on Opening Day, turning in another scoreless start in the Mets’ 2-0 win over the Phillies on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. Edwin Diaz shut the door in the ninth, recording three strikeouts, and collected his first save of the season.
The Mets (4-2) snapped a two-game losing streak and will try to win the series in Wednesday’s finale with Max Scherzer going toe-to-toe against Aaron Nola.
Megill allowed just three hits and recorded five strikeouts, while walking none, across 5.1 innings and 76 pitches. The 26-year-old leads all major league pitchers with 10.1 scoreless innings. Tuesday was his second-career start against the Phillies.
Brandon Nimmo homered off his former teammate, Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, in the fifth to put the Mets on the board. Starling Marte’s first stolen base of the season in the eighth led to key insurance, as Francisco Lindor drove him in on an RBI single for a two-run lead. The Mets offense managed just three hits at the hitter-friendly Philly park.
Drew Smith was the bullpen hero on Tuesday after he took the ball from Chasen Shreve in the seventh in a one-run game. He struck out Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius to end the frame, then manager Buck Showalter asked him to pitch a second inning. Smith responded by retiring the side in the eighth, setting up Diaz’s save opportunity.
The last time Megill allowed a run to score was on Sept. 24, 2021, the penultimate start of his rookie season. Megill also kept opposing teams off the board in spring training last month, recording 6.2 scoreless innings and the lowest ERA (0.00) among all Mets pitchers to wrap up Grapefruit League games.
Not bad for a pitcher who wasn’t even expected to break camp with the team.
Megill became the Amazin’s Opening Day starter after Jacob deGrom learned he’d be shut down from throwing for four weeks with a right scapula injury. With Max Scherzer also battling a hamstring issue at the time, Megill had the responsibility of keeping the Mets rotation afloat. Since then, Megill is shaping up to be a major problem for opposing lineups, and a boon for the Mets pitching staff.
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