If the team continues on the trajectory it has been on for most of the first half of the season, Jose Quintana will be high on the Mets’ available release list by July 30.
But the left-hander’s success since mid-June, combined with the team’s strong showing, has led to some exciting results at the trade deadline. The Mets are gunning for a playoff spot, and Quintana likely isn’t going anywhere.
On Monday night against the Twins, he regained momentum after two shaky at-bats early in the game, helping the Mets snap a two-game losing streak with a 15-2 victory at Citi Field.
The Mets, who were dominated by spread offensive contributions (eight different players scored), entered the night in first place in the National League’s third wild card spot and arrived six games above .500 in the final hours before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline.
Quintana allowed just one earned run for the second straight game. He pitched six innings overall, allowing five hits, striking out five and walking one. This was his seventh time in eight starts since June 9. His ERA in that span is 2.10.
“I’m looking to get some more guys to help us out and move the team forward,” Quintana said of the trade deadline. “The team is in a really good race and we’re playing together. I want to stay and make the playoffs. That would mean a lot to the team.”
Quintana’s performance was much appreciated after Tyler Megill and David Peterson struggled in back-to-back games against the Braves. Tonight, Quintana continued his recent trend of relying heavily on his curveball, with 49 percent of his 97 pitches being curveballs.
“Today was special because I’ve never used my curveball that much before,” Quintana said. “I was able to read the game quickly and I thought it was really good.” [Luis] Torrance [was] On the same page.”
Quintana gave up a one-run single to Byron Buxton in the first inning to give the Twins a 1-0 lead. Manuel Margot led off with a double and then Buxton doubled, but Quintana got out the next three batters in the inning.
“We knew from the first pitch of the game that they were going to come at us with a fastball and a sinker,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, “and then he switched to a curveball … and it worked for him.”
The Mets sent 10 batters to home plate in the fourth inning, scoring six runs to take a 6-1 lead, knocking out former Mets prospect Simeon Woods Richardson in the process, playing his first game against the team that drafted him.
Pete Alonso tied the game at 1-1 with a leadoff home run in the inning. It was Alonso’s second consecutive home run and gave him 21 home runs this season, one behind Francisco Lindor for the team lead.
Jesse Winker, playing in his first game in a Mets uniform, then walked, advanced to third base on a Mark Vientos double, and then gave the Mets a 2–1 lead on a Jeff McNeil single.
Torrence singled to add another run, Harrison Bader walked to load the bases, and Lindor then singled on an infield grounder to extend the Mets’ lead to 4-1.
Brandon Nimmo and J.D. Martinez continued the planned hitting with consecutive sacrifice flies.
Woods Richardson, who was acquired by the Blue Jays from the Mets in the 2019 trade for Marcus Stroman, pitched just 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and six earned runs with two strikeouts and three walks. The right-hander entered the game with a 3.27 ERA in 17 starts this season.
Nimmo’s single started the onslaught in the sixth inning, and before the end of the inning, Martinez added another run on a fielder’s choice, Vientos walked with the bases loaded, McNeil added a sacrifice fly, and Bader added a run on a hit by pitch to put the Twins down 10-1.
In the seventh inning, Alonso and McNeil each hit one-run doubles, and Torrence hit a two-run double off outfielder Matt Wallner, who came in to pitch with two outs in the inning.
“Not just on the offensive side, [Quintana] “He was very consistent and hit just about every pitch,” Alonso said. “He’s been great for us.”
