There was a lot that went right in the Mets’ 4-2 win over the Phillies on Thursday that completed the three-game sweep.
We saw vintage Max Scherzer pitch seven brilliant innings and Mark Canha continued to own the Phillies with his sixth RBI in two days. But, perhaps, lost in all of that was Mark Vientos‘ sac fly that sealed the deal for the Mets.
“I did exactly what I wanted to do, get hard contact just to score the run,” Vientos said after the game. “That was my job in that situation and that’s all I wanted to do.”
Vientos did not start Thursday’s game. He pinch-hit for Daneil Vogelbach in the sixth inning with Brett Baty on third base and one out. That run pushed the Mets lead to 4-2, and gave an insurance run that certainly limited the pressure on Scherzer and the bullpen after him.
In that at-bat, Vientos got ahead 2-0 in the count on lefty Matt Strahm. The southpaw worked his back to a full count thanks to a few fastballs that the 23-year-old could not get to. But on the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Vientos lofted a 95-mph fastball over the middle of the plate to center field to get the job done.
“He made the adjustment, got the barrel over the top of the ball. Hitting is a constant adjustment,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said of Vientos. “Hitting is hard, glad to see him make that adjustment and drive that run in for us.”
Since being called up on May 17, Vientos has largely been a right-handed option off the bench who makes the occasional start. He says he stays ready by taking swings in the cages between innings, and stays engaged in the game by asking questions of his coaches and teammates.
But he admitted that not playing everyday as he did in the minors will take some getting used to.
“It’s an adjustment, honestly,” Vientos said. “This game is all about adjusting. I’m adjusting to my role right now and I feel like I’m doing a good job and I’m working hard everyday. That’s all I can do at this moment.”
In limited at-bats, Vientos is 5-for-26 with a home run and four RBI at the big league level. As an everyday player in Triple-A, Vientos was slashing .333/.416/.688 with 13 home runs and 37 RBI in 38 games.
The Mets welcome the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend for a three-game set. One of the Jays’ probable starters is a lefty, so Vientos may get at least one start in the series to show more of how he’s adjusted to the majors.