Field Level Media
Sep 14, 2018
Noah Syndergaard tossed seven scoreless innings Friday night, and Jay Bruce collected four RBIs for the second time this week as the New York Mets cruised to an 8-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
The surging Mets have won 10 of 13 this month. The Red Sox, who have 101 wins this season, fell for just the fourth time in 12 September games.
Syndergaard (12-3) allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out six. The Red Sox mounted just one threat against Syndergaard, who allowed a leadoff single in the third to Ian Kinsler. After Kinsler stole second, Jackie Bradley Jr. drew a walk. Two outs later, the runners pulled off a double steal, but Syndergaard wriggled out of the inning by retiring Andrew Benintendi on a grounder.
Syndergaard also picked off Kinsler in the seventh -- a notable feat for the long-haired right-hander, whose long delivery to home plate has allowed opposing baserunners to record 29 stolen bases in 32 attempts against him.
Jerry Blevins and Tyler Bashlor finished the combined four-hitter.
Bruce provided Syndergaard all the support he'd need in the first inning, when he delivered an RBI double, and in the third, when he hit a three-run homer. Bruce also had four RBIs against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.
The Mets piled on with three more homers -- a shot by Jeff McNeil in the fourth inning and round-trippers by Austin Jackson and Amed Rosario in the eighth. Jackson's blast drove in two runs.
Rosario and McNeil each finished with two hits.
Kinsler had two hits for the Red Sox, who were shut out for just the seventh time this season.
William Cuevas (0-1), who made his first big league start in place of the ill Hector Velazquez, took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out four over two innings. Four pitchers completed the game out of the bullpen for the Red Sox.
--Field Level Media