Christian Scott’s best start in six weeks was one of his strongest this season, but it wasn’t enough to get the Mets a Subway Series win.
Two pitches derailed the right-hander Sunday: A splitter that Ben Rice hit into the right field seats leading off the game for the Yankees and the four-seamer Austin Wells crushed for a homer in the third. Those blasts accounted for two of the three hits and the only runs against Scott in the 2-0 loss at Yankee Stadium.
Scott’s start was only the second best in this series rubber game; Cam Schlittler allowed one hit over six shutout innings with eight strikeouts. Scott went six innings and struck out seven.
Scott’s takeaway from his solid performance on such a big stage?
“That I can compete anywhere against anybody,” Scott said. “Cam threw a great game today. When you give up solo home runs and he gives up no runs through six, it’s tough to beat him. But I feel that I can go out and compete against anybody and put my stuff against anybody’s.”
In the larger picture, the Mets received quality starts on consecutive days from two of the young building blocks in their rotation. A day earlier, rookie Zac Thornton allowed two earned runs over seven innings in the Mets’ lone victory in the series.
“It’s good to see them do it here,” interim manager Andy Green said. “I don’t think there is a one of us that knows those two guys that would have doubted they would do it here. Pitchers have bad games. But this park was not going to rattle either of those guys. I don’t see playoff atmospheres rattling those guys. I don’t see anything really getting in their way from being what they can be.”
Scott’s start was his 31st straight in which he allowed four earned runs or fewer, extending his franchise record for a pitcher beginning his major league career. He’s pitched to a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts this season.
“I’m grateful to be here,” said Scott, who missed last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. “But at the same time, I feel I can help this team win a lot of games.”
Scott said he’s most pleased that he’s transitioned from thrower to pitcher.
“I feel I have been able to locate my off-speed pitches a lot,” Scott said. “I have the cutter, and I am able to throw the changeup more, just rounding out my repertoire and the weapons that I have, but overall I just feel like I have been attacking the strike zone a little bit better than earlier in the year. Just keep that pace up and take it into next year.”
