NEW YORK — Jacob deGrom’s ERA crept above 1.00 for the first time this season, and the New York Mets rallied in the seventh and eighth innings to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 Wednesday in a doubleheader opener.
Pinch-hitter José Peraza, batting for deGrom, hit a tying home run with one out in the seventh off Josh Hader, who had converted 24 saves chances since Sept. 20.
Edwin Díaz (3-2) forced in a run by hitting Christian Yelich on the right thigh with a fastball on the first pitch of an at-bat in the eighth, the third time in his big league career Díaz hit a batter with the bases load.
Jeff McNeil hit a two-run single with no outs in the bottom half off Brent Suter (8-4), who was trying for his first big league save.
Dominic Smith, who was hit by a pitch leading off that struck his left hand and glanced his mouth, slid across the plate headfirst to score as center fielder Mookie Betts’ two-hop throw was up the third-base line.
McNeil got the first walk-off hit of his big league career and the Mets got their seventh walk-off win this season and their fourth win in their last five games. Each game was shortened to seven innings under pandemic rules.
DeGrom allowed a home run to Luis Urías on his fourth pitch and another to Jace Peterson that put Milwaukee ahead 2-1 in the fifth. Urías’ home run on a 98.6 mph fastball was the fourth home run leading off a game against deGrom, the first since Philadelphia’s Scott Kingery went deep on deGrom’s first pitch on July 5, 2019.
DeGrom got his third straight no-decision allowing two runs and four hits in seven innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks, his seventh start with double-digit strikeouts this season. His ERA has risen from 0.50 to 1.08 in his last three starts.
He threw six pitches of 100 mph or higher, all in his last three innings, and with 185 this season already is within 11 of Noah Syndergaard in 2016 for the most in a year since pitch tracking started in 2008.
DeGrom has 1,505 strikeouts, reaching 1,500 in his 198th start, the second-fastest behind Yu Darvish’s 197.
Brewers ace Corbin Burnes gave up one run and six hits while striking out eight and walking none over 5 2/3 innings. Francisco Lindor blooped an RBI single in the first.
DEGROM’S ALL-STAR STATUS
Mets manager Luis Rojas said Wednesday morning deGrom could make a brief start on short rest Sunday. DeGrom, picked for his fourth All-Star team, said last weekend he’d rather skip the July 13 game and focus on staying healthy for the second half.
BREWERS GET ROWDY
The newest member of the Brewers, Rowdy Tellez, struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of the opener, about 24 hours after he was acquired from Toronto. To make room for Tellez on the 40-man roster, the Brewers designated for assignment IF Daniel Robertson, who hit .164 with two homers and four RBIs in 73 at-bats.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: 1B Daniel Vogelbach has begun taking light swings but is still not close to a return.
Mets: RHP Corey Oswalt (right knee inflammation) was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday and replaced on the active roster by RHP Robert Stock. … RHP Carlos Carrasco (right hamstring) threw a 20-pitch batting practice session Tuesday. Manager Luis Rojas said Carrasco was excited by his progress and hoped to throw batting practice again this weekend. … 3B J.D. Davis (left hand) is nearing a return, but Rojas said with the All-Star break starting Monday, Davis will likely remain on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse for at least the next several days.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Adrian Houser (5-5, 3.94 ERA) starts the opener of a four-game series Thursday against Cincinnati, Milwaukee’s opponent in seven straight games.
Mets: RHP Taijuan Walker (7-3, 2.44 ERA) will look to burnish his candidacy as an All-Star replacement when he takes the mound Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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