DeGrom gets first win with 4-0 victory over Miami
MIAMI (AP) It took eight starts, but Jacob deGrom finally has a win in the big leagues.
deGrom pitched seven scoreless innings to earn his first major league win for the New York Mets in a 4-0 victory against the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
''To have a performance like that and get the win feels good,'' said deGrom. ''I have a lot of people here from the Daytona area, which is only about four hours away, and my whole family is here.''
deGrom (1-4), who was the first Mets starting pitcher to go winless in his first seven starts, struck out seven as he allowed five hits and issued three walks.
''He had all his pitches working and he was throwing them all for strikes at any count,'' Mets third baseman David Wright said. ''It's a lot of fun to play defense behind him because he works so quickly and effectively.''
Lucas Duda hit a two-run home run, his 10th, and Wright had three hits and an RBI for New York, which has won three of four.
It was the second shutout in the series for the Mets as Zack Wheeler tossed a 1-0 shut out on Thursday.
''Right now we're in a little bit of a spell where we're not able to get the consecutive hits and get a little bit of a rally going, but we will,'' Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.
Jeurys Familia pitched the eighth and Jenrry Mejia came in for the ninth to preserve the shut out.
Marlins starter Tom Koehler (5-6) retired the first 11 batters he faced before allowing two runs and four hits in seven innings while striking out eight.
''It was nice to get through seven and get out of the jam in the sixth, but at the same time it's a little frustrating giving up those two runs and not really getting those bunts down - that's really kind of eating at me right now,'' Koehler said.
Miami second baseman Rafael Furcal left the game in the fourth inning with a left calf and hamstring and injury after grounding out to end the third. Furcal, who missed the first 2 1-2 months of the season with hamstring and groin injuries, was scheduled to have an MRI after the game.
''It definitely doesn't sound good,'' Redmond said.
Before the game shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria was scratched from the starting lineup with soreness in his elbow on his throwing arm, but could be in the lineup on Sunday.
''He was availabe if we needed him to hit, I think the throwing was the biggest concern for him today, but I'm anticipating him being ready for tomorrow, but we'll see,'' Redmond said.
Chris Young hit a two-out single in the fourth to give the Mets a 1-0 lead and Wright singled home a run in the sixth for a two-run advantage.
Miami's best opportunity to score came in the sixth after Giancarlo Stanton stole third base with one out, but deGrom retired the next two batters to end the threat.
''He made some real, real good pitches with his slider today, and he used his change-up to right handers effectively today,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''He certainly deserved to win.''
Duda's home run to right field came off Chris Hatcher in the ninth inning to give the Mets a 4-0 cushion.
NOTES: Marlins teammates Garrett Jones and Jeff Baker celebrated their 32nd birthdays today. ... Mets RF Curtis Granderson has reached base safely in his last 30 starts. ... Mets LHP Jonathon Niese (3-4, 2.67) will take the mound in Sunday's series finale against Miami RHP Anthony DeSclafani (1-1, 5.60).