Mets blast by Royals to cut deficit
Associated Press
NEW YORK
Two balls launched over the wall, one fired over an opponent’s head and just like that, David Wright and the New York Mets are right back in this World Series.
Wright homered and drove in four runs, Curtis Granderson also connected and rookie Noah Syndergaard set a nasty tone at the start of a 9-3 victory against the Kansas City Royals that trimmed New York’s deficit to 2-1 Friday night.
Shut down at the plate in Kansas City, the Mets broke loose with 12 hits from nine different players as they chased Yordano Ventura early during the first Series game at Citi Field.
Pitching on Halloween eve, Syndergaard recovered from a scary start and went six innings, giving the Mets the winning performance they didn’t get from fellow young starters Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom at Kauffman Stadium.
Another rookie, hometown favorite Steven Matz, tries to pull New York even Saturday night in Game 4 when he faces 36-year-old Chris Young and the Royals.
After the Mets fell behind in the first inning, Granderson started the bottom half with a single and Wright hit his first World Series home run, recharging a packed crowd of 44,781 that included Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Dennis Miller.
The captain, who entered batting .182 without an RBI in his first World Series, added a two-run single on Kelvin Herrera’s first pitch during a four-run sixth that broke it open. Pinch-hitter Juan Uribe, just back from a chest injury, had an RBI single in his first plate appearance since Sept. 25. Slumping slugger Yoenis Cespedes added a sacrifice fly.
Hoping to rekindle the comeback spirit of 1986, when the Mets rallied from an 0-2 World Series hole to beat Boston for their most recent championship, the team played its highlight video from that year on the large scoreboard during batting practice.
Mets 9, Royals 3
Kansas CityNew York
abrhbiabrhbi
AEscor ss4010Grndrs rf5322
Zobrist 2b4110DWrght 3b5124
L.Cain cf4010DnMrp 2b4000
Hosmer 1b4001Cespds cf-lf3011
Mostks 3b4010Duda 1b4110
S.Perez c3110TdArnd c4020
AGordn lf3010Confort lf2011
Rios rf3111Lagars ph-cf2110
KHerrr p0000WFlors ss3100
Madson p0000Syndrg p2110
Medlen p0000Uribe ph1111
KMorls ph1000A.Reed p0000
Ventur p0000Niwnhs ph1000
DDuffy p0000Clipprd p0000
Mondes ph1000Famili p0000
Hochvr p0000
FMorls p0000
Orland rf1000
Totals32372Totals369129
Kansas City120000000—3
New York20210400x—9
LOB—Kansas City 5, New York 6. 2B—Zobrist (3), T.d’Arnaud (1). HR—Granderson (2), D.Wright (1). SB—A.Escobar (1). S—Ventura. SF—Cespedes.
IPHRERBBSO
Kansas City
Ventura L,0-13 1-375501
D.Duffy2-300001
Hochevar110002
F.Morales1-324400
K.Herrera2-310011
Madson110001
Medlen100002
New York
Syndergaard W,1-0673326
A.Reed100000
Clippard100000
Familia100001
HBP—by F.Morales (W.Flores). PB—T.d’Arnaud.
Umpires—Home, Mike Winters; First, Jim Wolf; Second, Alfonso Marquez; Third, Gary Cederstrom; Left, Mike Everitt; Right, Mark Carlson.
T—3:22. A—44,781 (41,922).