Diamondbacks vs. Mets – Game Recap – September 11, 2019

NEW YORK — Todd Frazier and Jeff McNeil each homered twice, helping the surging New York Mets stun Diamondbacks ace Robbie Ray and beat Arizona 9-0 Wednesday night.

The Mets scored their nine runs on 11 hits on a night that Major League Baseball honored those whose lives were lost or affected on Sept. 11, 2001. The Mets wore hats honoring first responders during batting practice and had first responders on the field for the national anthem.

“What a great day. Just to have all the first responders on the field, getting to stand in between [them],” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “I know I had some pretty cool conversations with the guys around me; I’m sure everybody out there on the line did. He was just talking about that day, and all the cleanup after — it’s amazing. So that was neat in its own right; and then to come up and win a game for them, and to get nine runs on 11 hits, that’s even cooler.”

The Mets (75-70) have won the first three games of the pivotal four-game series to move past the Diamondbacks (75-71) in the race for the second National League wild card. New York entered Wednesday three games behind the Chicago Cubs, who played later Wednesday at San Diego.

Arizona has lost four straight since going 11-1 to rush back into the crowded NL playoff picture.

Steven Matz (10-8) tossed six scoreless innings for the Mets, who jumped on Ray (12-8) for five runs before chasing him with two out in the first. Wilson Ramos (groundout) and J.D. Davis (single) had RBIs before Frazier and Brandon Nimmo homered on consecutive pitches.

McNeil hit a solo homer in the second, and Frazier hit his 20th homer of the season, a solo shot, in the third. McNeil then joined Frazier in the 20-homer club with a two-run drive in the sixth.

The Mets have four players with 20 homers for the fourth time in franchise history. Pete Alonso leads the majors with 47, and Michael Conforto has 29.

Matz allowed four hits and three walks while striking out seven. He issued all three walks to open the second before striking out Carson Kelly and inducing a double-play grounder from Kevin Cron.

Ray gave up five hits and struck out one.

REMEMBERING 9/11

Alonso coordinated the purchase and production of custom 9/11 cleats for Mets players on the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The shoes were painted red, white and blue and included “We will never forget” and lettering for first responder units. After winning the All-Star Home Run Derby in July, Alonso donated $50,000 of his $1 million prize to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.

Prior to first pitch, children who lost parents or grandparents to 9/11-related illnesses ran to each position before being joined by the Mets’ starters. Alonso gave baseballs to the two children at first base while Amed Rosario went to one knee at shortstop to talk to the children there.

The Mets ended the game with nine runs on 11 hits.

IT’S A SHAME ABOUT RAY

Ray endured the shortest start by a Diamondbacks pitcher since T.J. McFarland gave up seven runs while recording just one out against the Minnesota Twins on Aug, 20, 2017. It was the shortest start ever for Ray, who lasted 1⅓ innings for the Detroit Tigers against the Twins on Aug. 22, 2014 and 1⅓ innings for the Diamondbacks against the Washington Nationals on Apr. 29, 2018.