Mets crush Diamondbacks thanks to Joey Lucchesi’s gem, timely hitting
In the majors this season, Joey Lucchesi has looked like a major league pitcher.
The problem has been that when he has pitched in the minor leagues, he has looked like a minor league pitcher.
It is not that Lucchesi’s season, his first since Tommy John surgery wiped away his 2022 campaign, has been disappointing as much as it has been strange.
Lucchesi’s major league ERA in seven starts is down to 2.83; his minor league ERA in 17 games is 4.42.
Facing a Cy Young candidate in Zac Gallen, the just-called-up Lucchesi was the better pitcher Wednesday.
The lefty baffled the Diamondbacks for seven-plus innings in which he allowed one unearned run in a 7-1 win in front of 22,026 at Citi Field.
The out-of-it Mets have taken two of the first three games of the series from the very-much-in-it Diamondbacks.
Making his first MLB start in nearly four weeks and summoned to provide an extra day of rest for Kodai Senga, Lucchesi allowed just five hits and walked three while striking out two.
He effectively pitched to contact and pitched to a strike zone with which he felt more comfortable.
The Triple-A level has experimented with the automated ball-strike system that many pitchers, who have cited a zone they feel is shrunken, have loathed.
“They have that ABS system, and, if I’m being honest, no one really likes it,” Lucchesi said after Arizona’s only run charged to him scored after he was pulled in the eighth. “They just changed it for the second time. I don’t think it’s very realistic.”
Lucchesi added that, “No one really likes hearing excuses,” and spoke more matter-of-fact than bemoaning.
His manager, Buck Showalter, added that, “It’s obviously a different strike zone up here.”
Lucchesi’s lack of success in the minors did not allow for much time in the majors.
The Mets (67-78) have received little from their option-able starting pitchers from Lucchesi to David Peterson to Tylor Megill.
Lucchesi has been the lowest in the hierarchy among the trio.
It is unclear whether Lucchesi will remain with the big-league club, as Jose Butto has replaced Carlos Carrasco.
They could continue with a six-man rotation, which would enable Lucchesi to continue showing he should be part of the rotation next year.
“I didn’t play all last year,” said the 30-year-old, who will be entering his final season of arbitration. “I had to show [the Mets] that I still had that fight in me, and I believe I have a lot of life left in my body. Hopefully they recognize that and see it, and it works out for me.”
The Mets’ offense contained a few pieces who tried taking the same kind of steps toward roles for next season.
Mark Vientos stroked a two-run home run off Gallen in the sixth inning that marked his third homer in 10 games.
Pete Alonso added two hits and three RBIs — bringing his total to 108 — and the Mets knocked around the Diamondbacks ace for seven runs (six earned) in five-plus innings.
