Mets Beat Orioles 7-1 due to stellar performances from bench and another start from Taijuan Walker

New York Mets CF Kevin Pillar (Credits to Vincent Carchietta-USA Today Sports) The New York Mets beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-1 this at Citi Field this afternoon to sweep the two-game series for their seventh consecutive win and improved their record to 18-13. The offense got on the board early in the bottom of the second inning due to four consecutive hits after 1B Pete Alonso led off with a double, LF Dom Smith singld, CF Kevin Pillar hit a two-run triple and 2B Jose Pereza hit a RBI single against Orioles starter former Met RHP Matt Harvey. It was Harvey's first outing at Citi Field since he traded by the Mets to the Cicinatti Reds in 2018 and was greeted with a warm reception by the fans when he took the mound in the bottom of the first and at his first at-bat. In the bott of the third, SS Franciso Lindor singled with two outs, stole second and then Smith drove in Lindor with a RBI single. 3B Jonathan Villar singled and stole second to lead off the bottom of the fifth and advanced to third base after he tagged up on a fly ball to the warning track by Lindor. RF Muchael Conforto followed with a RBI single to bring in Villar. 1B Pete Alonso then walked which was Harvey's last batter of the game and then Smith drove in another run on an RBI double against Orioles reliever RHP Shawn Armstrong and then 2B Jose Pereza drove in a run on an infield single which was the final run of the game. RHP Taijuan Walker worked out around a two-run double by 1B Trey Mancini in the top of the first for a scoreless inning. Walker had some trouble with his command in the top of the second after he gave up back-to-back walks with one out, but retired catcher Chance Sisco and struck out Harvey to end the inning. Walker was helped out by his defense in the top of the third after Conforto made an amazing catcher to rob RF Austin Hays of an extra base hit and struck out Mancini to end the third for his first 1-2-3 inning. His success continued with 1-2-3 innings in the top of the fourth and fifth innings and at point retied 11 Orioles hitters in a row. Walker's streak ended after gave up a lead-off walk to CF Cedric Mullins in the top of the sixth and a single to Mancini, but was able to get out of the inning after he got LF Ryan Mountcastle to ground into a double play to end the inning. Walker gave up a lead-off walk to SS Freddy Galvis to start off the top of the seventh and two batters a single to 2B Rio Ruiz which advanced Galvis to third. He gave up his only run of the game after Sisco hit a soft ground-ball to Alonso and then retired pinch-hitter DJ Stewart on a pop-out to end the inning and was then taken out. Walker's final line was 7 innings, one run on four hits, three walks and four strikeouts. His fastball was topping out at 94-95 mph with his sharp slider and change-up. He had command of all his pitches. He picked up his third win and lowered his ERA to 2.20. RHP Robert Gsellman followed in the top of the eighth and worked out of a based loaded jam with some help from his defense from 3B Jonathan Villar and Peraza and didn't allow any runs in the inning. RHP Drew Smith came on in the top of the ninth for his first appearance of the year and closed it out with a 1-2-3 inning. The Mets are off tomorrow and return to action on Friday, May 14th at the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:10 p.m.