Mets bat around, chase Paul Skenes in eventful five-run Opening Day first inning
The Mets quickly gave the Citi Field faithful plenty to cheer about in the bottom half of the first inning thanks to five runs against Paul Skenes.
Well, that was quite a start. After Freddy Peralta allowed a pair of runs in the top of the first inning during Thursday’s Opening Day matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Mets quickly gave the Citi Field faithful plenty to cheer about in the bottom half of the inning. Thanks to four hits, two walks, a hit batter and a pair of defensive misplays by Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz, the Mets put five runs on the board and chased reigning NL Cy Young Paul Skenes after just two outs and 37 pitches.
The Mets went on to win by a score of 11-7, thanks in part to that fast start against one of baseball's best pitchers. It all started with a leadoff walk by Francisco Lindor , followed by a Juan Soto single and a Bo Bichette sac fly to right. After loading the bases with a Luis Robert Jr .
walk, Brett Baty cashed in by lining a three-run triple over the head of Cruz in center, as he initially broke in. Cruz later missed what should have been an easy fly out from Marcus Semien, and then Skenes hit Francisco Alvarez as the Mets batted around. "That first inning was pretty impressive, not gonna lie," Carlos Mendoza said after the game.
"Right out of the gate with Lindor walking and then just going first to third and putting pressure (on Skenes), that’s one of the things that we talk about. If you want to beat guys like this, you’re going to have to play perfect baseball pretty much. Not only putting together some really good at-bats, but running the bases, putting the ball in play, and that whole inning, the way everything unfolded was pretty impressive.