New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard lived up to his superhero status in Game 3. Setting the tone for a Mets team that needed it.
By David Hong
New York Mets rookie starter Noah Syndergaard needed a superhero-like start in Game 3 of the World Series, and he did it for the most part in helping the Mets take Game 3 over the Kansas City Royals.
Playing up to his nickname “Thor.”
Syndergaard, 23, pitched six solid innings, giving up three runs and striking out six. Those six strikeouts were very impressive vs a Royals team that doesn’t strike out much, and only did so three times vs hard throwers Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom in Games 1 and 2 respectively.
But Syndergaard proved tonight why he is the hardest thrower in the league, and why his secondary pitches are nothing to sneeze at as well.
In the top of the first inning, he showed his presence when he threw a fastball high and in to Royals leadoff hitter Alcides Escobar.
Escobar, 28, who hit an inside the park home run off Harvey to start Game 1, struck out against Syndergaard after the high and in pitch.
Even though Syndergaard got roughed up a little in the first two innings, giving up three runs on six hit, he settled down afterwards. Retiring 12 in a row from the second inning on to the sixth inning, mixing in with a variety of pitches to go with his high heaters.
He baffled KC’s hitter during that dominant stretch and unlike the first two games, KC didn’t seem to know what to do and uncharacteristically struck out several times as well.
The swings-and-misses returned for the @Mets starting staff tonight with @Noahsyndergaard #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/uzgMdgksYy
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 31, 2015
Finally even after loading the bases in the sixth, Syndergaard showed how tough mentally he is by getting out of that inning unscathed. Forcing an Alex Rios groundout to shortstop Wilmer Flores.
Overall with the Mets needing a win in the worst way after getting outplayed badly in Game 2, Syndergaard came to the rescue and became the hero this team needed.
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