David Peterson set the tone for the Mets on Wednesday night, spearheading an impressive offense that Pete Alonso described as “just electric.”
Peterson, who has the lowest ERA (3.04) among Mets starting pitchers, helped the Mets’ offense explode for a 9-1 victory at Citi Field, halting a four-game losing streak and stoking the Athletics’ offense to a stunned 9-1 victory.
The left-hander pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing three hits, one run, walking four and striking out four to improve his season record to 7-1.
The Mets are 10-3 with Peterson on the mound, and it’s just the second time this season he’s gone seven innings.
“I thought it was really good. I threw my sinker, my four-seam fastball, my changeup, my slider, not so much, but I threw them when I needed to,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after the win. “Obviously, I had some walks, but it was good to get to 96.” [mph]That’s a good sign.”
Peterson pitched the first two innings with three outs, three strikeouts and one walk, then worked the next four innings to get the Mets out of a jam.
With two runners on base and no outs, Peterson got Shea Langeliers out on a fly ball, then Daz Cameron got out on a grounder to first base.
Peterson struck out Zach Geroff on three pitches to end the inning, leaving Oakland’s Miguel Andujar and J.J. Bleday on second and third base.
“When I’m in a tight spot, I think my approach is to just keep it as simple as possible and just take it pitch by pitch,” Peterson said about success in key situations. “Just take it one pitch at a time, focus on that pitch and then move on to the next one. I tried to not only slow down, but also focus on each pitch and not get ahead of myself.”
“You can either give in or fight back and run away. So I want to fight back and run away. I believe in my friends behind me and in Alby. [Francisco Alvarez] And whoever’s behind the plate.”
Much of his newfound success can be attributed to a healthy hip, which Peterson underwent offseason hip surgery after playing through pain in 2023.
“I think that’s where it all starts, feeling healthy, not having pain, feeling like I can move my body in the best way possible, I think that’s what helped it all,” Peterson said.
He admitted he wanted to stay in the game but was replaced after reaching two batters in the seventh inning.
The Citi Field crowd rose to their feet, applauded the starting pitcher and cheered him all the way to the dugout.
