Mets' Tylor Megill Shatters Expectations In Opening Day Victory Over Nationals
WASHINGTON -- Jacob deGrom, who?
It was a night that Tylor Megill will never forget in D.C. The right-hander took the mound as the Mets' starting pitcher on Opening Day as an improbable replacement for injured ace Jacob deGrom. And the second-year hurler shattered all expectations in what was likely his first audition to take deGrom's spot in the rotation until the two-time Cy Young Award winner is ready to return from the injured list.
Megill went a total of five scoreless innings on 68 pitches (47 strikes), he allowed three hits, struck out six batters and did not issue a walk as he picked up the win in the Mets' 5-1 victory over the Nationals in Game 1 of the 2022 regular-season.
"I'll remember this one," Megill said of his first career Opening Day start. "The first of many."
Megill, 26, came out firing bullets in the opening-inning against the Nationals, throwing the five fastest pitches of his career, maxing out at 99.1 mph on his four-seam fastball. Megill worked a 1-2-3 first inning with a pair of strikeouts and a soft grounder off the bat of superstar Juan Soto.
One thing Megill has been lauded for throughout his brief time as a big-leaguer is his composure. Prior to this contest, Mets manager Buck Showalter mentioned Megill's "low pulse" and ability to "stay within reality" as two traits that impress him about the young starter.
And these characteristics were on full display when he escaped tough jams in back-to-back innings. Megill twice erased prime scoring chances by the Nationals in the second-and-third.
Megill first induced a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play with two men on and one out in the second. And in the third inning, he got out of first-and-third trouble with one out by striking out Soto and getting Nelson Cruz to groundout.
"Attack each hitter," Megill said of his strategy when facing Soto and Cruz, two tough hitters, in this situation. "Beat the strike zone in ways to let them get themselves out."
Soto of course is one of the best hitters in baseball, but that didn't stop Megill from beating him on a 98 mph fastball for a crucial strikeout.
"He's probably one of the more fun bats to pitch to," Megill said of Soto. "He's very competitive. I find myself to be very competitive as well, so going toe-to-toe with a guy like that is always fun.
"Guy of his caliber, as a pitcher that's someone you want to get out."
Megill and Nationals left-handed starter Patrick Corbin matched each other with zeroes through four. Although the Mets were close to scoring their first run of the season in the top of the fourth, Pete Alonso was gunned down at the plate by Alcides Escobar while trying to score from first base on an Eduardo Escobar double.
However, they would not be denied in the following inning. The Mets loaded the bases against Corbin, who proceeded to hit James McCann with a pitch to force in the first run of the ball game and season for New York.
That was all for Corbin, who exited the contest with the bases still loaded and nobody out. Reliever Victor Arano came onto replace him, allowing a run on Starling Marte's fielder's choice, but he was able to get out of the jam without giving up any additional damage beyond this play.
Corbin's final line on the night was four innings, two earned runs on five hits, four strikeouts and two walks. The left-hander suffered the loss in this outing as the Nats' offense was unable to grab a lead at any point in this game.
In the top of the sixth, the Mets' offense ignited a two-out rally after Alonso advanced to second base on a wild pitch from righty Austin Voth. Robinson Cano drew a walk, which then saw Mark Canha line an RBI single into left center to put the Mets up 3-0. Jeff McNeil went back-to-back with Canha for an RBI single of his own, which scored another run for the Mets.
Soto got the Nats' on the board with a solo home run off Trevor May in the bottom of the sixth. But the Mets would retaliate almost immediately. With the Mets up 4-1 in the top of the seventh, J.D. Davis led off with a double, before Francisco Lindor drove him home with an RBI single to the opposite field.
Despite a slow start, the Mets' bats scored a total of five runs on the night. Cano, Alonso, McNeil and Canha all recorded two hits a piece. And minus McCann, each member of the Mets' starting lineup notched a hit.
McCann was hit by two pitches in the game, and Alonso got hit near his shoulder/helmet flap area, which knocked him to the ground in the ninth. Alonso, who was seen spitting blood, tried to go to first base, but Showalter did not allow him to do so. Alonso later came back out to the dugout with an ice pack around his mouth area and appeared to be okay after this scary moment.
Luckily, Alonso confirmed after the game that he did not lose any teeth and he also cleared the concussion protocol. Alonso came away with a fat lip, which was the best case scenario in this situation.
Following Megill's exit, May, Adam Ottavino, Seth Lugo and Edwin Diaz combined for a total of four innings, allowing one run, to shut the door.
The Mets hold the best record on Opening Day in MLB history. With Thursday evening's victory, they now improve to 40-21 all-time in their first game of the regular-season.
Star pitcher Max Scherzer will take the mound against his old team on Friday night for the second game of the series. Scherzer, who has been dealing with a hamstring hiccup, was cleared to make his first scheduled start tomorrow after passing a fielding test.
