Mets Rout Marlins 19-9 in Jonah Tong's Solid Debut

 

Mets RHP Jonah Tong (Photo Credits to SNY.TV)

The New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 19-9 at Citi Field and improved their record to 73-62.

The Met offense got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first after SS Francisco Lindor led off with a walk and stole second and RF Juan Soto followed with a two-run homer.

1B Pete Alonso followed with a single and then 3B Mark Vientos walked. LF Brandon Nimmo came up next and delivered a three-run homer.

In the bottom of the second, Soto singled with two outs and Alonso followed with a two-run homer. Vientos then singled and Nimmo walked. DH Starling Marte followed with a RBI single and then 2B Brett Baty walked. CF Tyrone Taylor capped off the inning with a two-run double.

After scoreless innings in the bottom of the third, fourth and fifth, Nimmo homered to lead off the bottom of the sixth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Vientos led off with a homer and Nimmo followed with a single. Marte then walked and Baty reached on an infield hit to load the bases. Taylor followed with another two-run double and catcher Luis Torrens put the exclamation point on the offensive outburst with a three-run homer.

RHP Jonah Tong made his MLB debut and had a quick first inning with only six pitches needed.

Tong gave up a lead-off double in the top of the second and retired the next three hitters.

He had his first career strikeout in the top of the third.

In the top of the fourth, he worked his way out of a second and third one-out jam by picking up a strikeout and ground-out.

Tong was let down by his defense in the top of the fifth and had to overcome two fielders choices and two errors which led to three unearned runs and four total and was taken out after the inning.

His final line was five innings, six hits, four runs, one earned run, 0 walks and six strikeouts.

Tong showed a lot of poise and composure and featured his fastball topping out at 95-96 mph with a knee-buckling curve ball and change-up.

He will only continue to get better as his career progresses.

RHP Ryan Helsley followed with a scoreless top of the sixth.

LHP Jose Castillo threw a scoreless top of the seventh and gave up a run in the top of the eighth.

Torrens came in the top of the ninth and allowed four runs and picking up only out.

RHP Ryne Stanek followed and got the last two outs to close it out.

The Mets next game is tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, August 30 at home against the Marlins at 4:10 p.m.