David Robertson retired Tim Anderson on a game-ending fly ball that stranded runners on second and third, and the New York Mets beat the Chicago White Sox 11-10 on Tuesday after building a seven-run lead. runs with a pair of home runs by Francisco Álvarez.
Alvarez and fellow rookie Brett Baty hit back-to-back home runs off Lucas Giolito (6-6) as the Mets took a 5-0 lead in their first high-scoring inning this season. Álvarez added another two-run home run in the sixth off Tanner Banks for his third multi-homer game, putting the Mets up 11-4.
«I know this: He’s not scared of the moment,» Mets manager Buck Showalter said. «That’s weird.»
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Francisco Alvarez (4) of the New York Mets celebrates with Brett Baty (22) and Francisco Lindor after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Alvarez, 21, has seven home runs in 11 games in July and has 19 this season, the most among catchers and tied with Texas’ Josh Jung for the major league record among rookies.
When asked if he expected to be so productive so quickly, Alvarez smiled.
«Why not?» he told her through an interpreter.
The only catcher to hit more home runs at age 21 or younger is Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, who had 26 home runs at age 21 in 1969.
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Francisco Alvarez (4) of the New York Mets gestures to teammates as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, July 18. 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
«I looked in there once, I read the (score) board from time to time, they had him and Johnny Bench’s name,» Showalter said. «That catches your attention a bit.»
Chicago closed out in the seventh on a two-run double by Jake Burger and a two-run single by Yasmani Grandal off Trevor Gott and a pass ball by Álvarez.
Andrew Benintendi hit a run-scoring two-out single in the ninth inning after a pair of walks by Robertson. Benintendi stole second and Anderson flied a slider, knocking the bat off of him as Robertson earned his 13th save in 16 chances.
«In the last couple of innings, we were able to put some zeroes on the board, which allowed our offense, which was in its game today, to get us back into the game,» White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. «We fought the whole game, we took it to the last at-bat. We didn’t get this one, but we fought.»
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New York Mets reliever David Robertson, left, talks with catcher Francisco Alvarez after a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in New York. The Mets won 11-10. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Grant Hartwig (2-1) allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings. New York won for the eighth time in 12 games.
Tommy Pham hit an RBI double and Pete Alonso had a first-inning sacrifice fly for the Mets, who have been outscored 65-31 in the first.
Jeff McNeil had a pair of RBI singles, DJ Stewart hit his first home run since Sept. 7, 2021, and Francisco Lindor hit a run-scoring double.
Grandal homered off Carlos Carrasco, who allowed four runs and six of his own in 4 2/3 innings.
Giolito (6-6) allowed a season-high eight runs. one shy of his career high, and matched his season low with 3 2/3 innings. His ERA went up from 3.45 to 3.96.
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Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) reacts as Francisco Alvarez of the New York Mets runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday July 18, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
«You know what, he has 32, 33 starts a year, I can’t remember the last time he wasn’t there,» Grifol said. «He was not connected.»
PERFECT STRANGERS
The Mets and White Sox met for the 14th time, including the sixth time at Citi Field. Each club is the less common opponent of the other.
COACHES ROOM
White Sox: OF Eloy Jimenez (left groin), who left Sunday’s game against Atlanta in the first inning, could return to the starting lineup on Wednesday. … RHP Liam Hendriks (elbow) is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Wednesday.
Mets: OF Starling Marte was ruled out with a migraine and replaced in the lineup by Mark Canha, who batted eighth. Marte has missed two of the last three games. … Pham (right groin) returned to the starting lineup after missing Sunday’s game. … RHP Edwin Diaz (right patellar tendon) threw from 150 feet.
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Francisco Alvarez of the New York Mets hits a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a Chicago White Sox baseball game on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
UNTIL NEXT TIME
RHP Touki Toussaint (0-1, 3.10 ERA) is scheduled to make his third start and fifth appearance for the White Sox when he faces Mets RHP Justin Verlander (3-5, 3.72 ERA) on Wednesday night.