Field Level Media
Aug 23, 2019
Noah Syndergaard retired the first 16 hitters and allowed two hits over six dominant innings as the New York Mets withstood two rain delays and completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Cleveland Indians with a rain-shortened 2-0 victory on Thursday night.
Syndergaard's bid for New York's second no-hitter in team history ended when Tyler Naquin singled up the middle in the sixth inning. He allowed a two-out single to Francisco Lindor but with runners at first and second, Syndergaard retired Greg Allen on a grounder to first baseman Pete Alonso, who made a diving stop.
Before losing his perfect-game bid, Syndergaard (9-6) had some defensive help from left fielder J.D. Davis on a ball hit by Allen in the fourth.
Allen hit a fly ball that appeared it would land in front of the warning track, but Davis ran back, extended himself and made an over-the-shoulder catch for the second out of the fourth.
Syndergaard struck out five, walked none, threw 73 pitches and improved to 6-1 in his last seven home starts.
Wilson Ramos had a two-run double in the fourth that gave the Mets a 2-0 lead and extended his hitting streak to 16 games. It is the longest streak by a Met since Carlos Beltran also had a 16-game hitting streak in 2009.
The Mets won their fifth in a row and improved to 27-10 since the All-Star break, the best mark in the majors. New York also improved to 13-1 in its last 14 home games in front of a crowd that was hanging on every pitch Syndergaard threw.
Syndergaard did not return after heavy rain and winds pelted the field as the Mets batted in the sixth. The game was halted as Ramos batted with a runner on first and the delay lasted two hours, 28 minutes.
The game was halted for a second time after Amed Rosario singled in the eighth. After a delay of 36 minutes, the game was called.
Jeurys Familia and Paul Sewald pitched a scoreless inning apiece. Sewald was credited with his third career save.
The Indians concluded a 2-5 trip through New York against the Yankees and Mets. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cleveland is the fourth team to play consecutive series against the Yankees and Mets on the same road trip.
Cleveland also lost for the seventh time in nine games overall and dropped 3 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
Cleveland starter Aaron Civale allowed two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked none.
--Field Level Media