ST. LOUIS — Joey Lucchesi has spent most of the 2023 season as a forgotten man, but the left-hander is an additional pitcher who is under the Mets’ control for 2024 and capable of getting outs in the major leagues.
Friday night was an opportunity for the team to savor the best of Lucchesi, who pitched strong into the sixth inning in the Mets’ 7-1 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
The Mets (57-66) won for the fifth time in six games, continuing their recent success against the NL Central.
Facing the Cubs, Pirates and Cardinals over the last week-and-a-half, the Mets have gone 6-2, but in between they were pounded by the Braves (who won three of four games at Citi Field last weekend).
Lucchesi followed lefty Jose Quintana’s superb start a night earlier by firing 5 ²/₃ scoreless innings in which he allowed four hits and two walks and struck out five.
Lucchesi hadn’t pitched for the Mets since May 13, and his previous two outings were rehab appearances with Single-A Brooklyn because of left knee tendinitis.
Lucchesi, who has appeared in 13 games for Triple-A Syracuse, had a career highlight on April 21 when he was recalled by the Mets and pitched seven shutout innings against the Giants.
David Peterson and Tylor Megill are other options for rotation depth who are hoping to leave an impression on Mets officials over the final six weeks of the season. Lucchesi, 30, was promoted to give the Mets an extra starter — allowing Kodai Senga to receive extra rest — and could remain in that role or return to Syracuse.
Lucchesi departed with two outs in the sixth inning after Tyler O’Neill doubled to put runners on second and third. Phil Bickford walked Jordan Walker to load the bases before he struck out pinch-hitter Alec Burleson.
Brandon Nimmo homered leading off the game for his 18th of the season, a career best. The veteran outfielder had 17 homers for the Mets in 2018.
Nimmo’s shot over the fence in left-center also extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
The Mets extended their lead to 2-0 in the third on Jeff McNeil’s RBI single. Francisco Lindor singled with two outs and Francisco Alvarez walked before McNeil delivered.
McNeil’s three-run homer in the seventh broke it open. After the Mets loaded the bases with nobody out and scored on Lindor’s RBI fielder’s choice, Alvarez stroked an RBI single that widened the lead to 4-0. McNeil followed with a shot over the right-field fence for his sixth homer of the season.
Lucchesi loaded the bases in the first inning on two walks and a single before he struck out Jordan Walker. The Cardinals didn’t get another base runner against him until Masyn Winn reached on an infield single in the fifth for his first major league hit. The highly regarded rookie shortstop was selected from Triple-A before the game.
Before the ball from Winn’s first hit could be retrieved, Pete Alonso tossed it into the grandstand behind first base. Alonso was booed and still heard it from the crowd in his two plate appearances that ensued. The fan who caught the ball eventually surrendered it.
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