What could have been a pitching duel between former Yankees teammates ended up being a battle of survival of the fittest.
Luis Severino wasn’t as good as usual for the Mets on Friday, but he still found a way to pitch better than Jordan Montgomery, whose poor start to the season and even more dismal track record at Citi Field continues even in the Diamondbacks’ new uniform.
The Mets, who signed Severino but didn’t get involved in Montgomery’s surprisingly cold free-agent market this offseason, held the left-hander to nine hits and eight runs in four innings for a 10-9 victory.
“I feel like my sinker has become BP. [batting practice] “Now I just have to find a way to move the ball and get in the zone. I feel like I’m just throwing it anymore and not pitching,” Montgomery said.
From the start, it was clear this game wouldn’t be a tribute to the glory days in the Bronx, when both pitchers were in the same rotation from 2017-2021.
The Mets scored four runs in the first inning to overtake the Diamondbacks after they had led by three in the first inning.
“Best case scenario for us to win tonight is 1-0,” Montgomery said. “I always hope Seby stays healthy. I’m always rooting for him when he’s not playing us.”
Only one pitcher was able to stay calm from there, and the Mets’ relief staff gave up four runs in the ninth inning before losing most of their momentum.
” [hitters] “He came in well and supported me,” Severino said. “I wanted to get the shutout as well, but I was battling today.”
Severino (3-2) got three consecutive outs in the second and fourth innings, then picked up his speed in the fifth to get out of a jam with a two-out throw to second base and give the Mets an 8-4 lead.
He left the game after giving up a solo home run to Eugenio Suarez off his 97th pitch with one out in the sixth inning.
“The first two innings I was a little down, a little low on energy,” Severino said. He refueled with a honey snack during the second inning. “After that I was a lot better.”
Montgomery, a star in the Rangers’ postseason as a 2023 World Series champion, has yet to regain his form after missing spring training.
He allowed a three-run triple by Starling Marte, RBI doubles by Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso and RBI singles by Marte and Mark Vientos, raising his career ERA to 16.75 in three starts at Citi Field.
“I feel like every time I come here I’ve had a bad run,” Montgomery said. “I’ve got to get better. I have no excuses.”
Montgomery (3-3) is pitching on a one-year, $25 million contract with a 5.48 ERA in eight starts, nearly double the one-year, $13 million deal Severino accepted after an injury-plagued career with the Yankees.
This marks the third time Severino has allowed three or more runs (5) in an 11-inning start, but all three of those times came since May 5.
