The Mets' longest winning streak since 2018 came to an end Sunday, but that didn't stop Luis Severino's resurgence.
The right-hander was also excellent in a 3-1 loss to the Reds, allowing just one run in 6 2/3 innings.
This marks the fourth time Severino has allowed one or no runs in his past five starts.
The only run he allowed came on soft contact, with Ty France starting the counterattack with a slow chop to first base. Noelvi Marte brought in one run with a 79 mph single to right field.
Severino struggled early on with two weak pitches in the fifth inning, but he recovered.
“Mistakes happen,” Severino said. “We're getting through the lineup well. We're feeling good. We're pitching what we want to pitch. Hopefully, luck will be on our side.”
That wasn't the case Sunday, as Phil Mutton gave up two runs in the top of the ninth and silenced the Mets' top of the lineup, but it was another encouraging game for Severino.
Severino got off to a great start against Boston, striking out the first seven batters he faced.
Cincinnati didn't get a hit until Jake Fraley's fly double in the top of the fifth.
Next, Santiago Espinal hit a fly ball to right field, sending the runner to third base with no outs.
Severino then tagged out Espinal at first base and struck out Marte with the infield empty.
He got Will Benson swinging at a 98 mph four-seam fastball and kept the game scoreless.
“Even when there were runners on base, I always had the ability to get the ball behind me,” Severino said of his increased velocity.
Even if it wasn't a win, the Mets would win.
“It's great to see him go out there and do well, especially in terms of innings,” Carlos Mendoza said. “It's a good sign.”
Every time he starts, Severino continues to handle a much larger workload than he has been able to handle in recent years.
Severino hadn't pitched more than 102 innings in the majors since pitching 191¹/₃ in 2018, but he accomplished that in 2022.
He's now up to 166 innings.
Only 15 pitchers had thrown more innings before Sunday, and none of them were on the Mets.
“He's unbelievable,” Brandon Nimmo said. “He pitches with so much confidence.”
Severino has been a big contributor to the durability of the starting rotation, with Tyler Megill being the only one in the previous rotation to not pitch more than six innings.
“A lot of guys there pitched like horses,” Nimmo said. “Seven innings has become their style of play the last few weeks.”
None more so than Severino.
“I am proud [Severino]”He's having a great bounce-back year,” Nimmo said.
