Luis Severino was untouchable on Saturday.
The right-hander tossed a complete game shutout in the Mets 4-0 win over the Miami Marlins to secure a series victory. Severino allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out eight in his best performance of the season. He becomes the first Met to throw a complete game shutout since Jacob deGrom in 2021.
“That was really fun to go out there and compete for this fanbase,” said Severino. “It was really good. They gave me a little bit of force to go out there and compete for everybody.”
Carlos Mendoza walked out in the ninth inning with the intent on making a pitching change after Severino allowed the leadoff man to reach first as Jake Burger was hit by a pitch.
The manager was greeted with boos from the home crowd as they wanted Severino to remain in the game.
“It’s special… especially when you’re getting booed when you’re about to make a pitching change,” said Mendoza. “I’ve been booed the other way maybe taking too long to [pull a pitcher].
“Special feeling, the crowd was behind him.”
It’s the first time the veteran has gone the distance since May 2, 2019 as a member of the Yankees when he shut out the Houston Astros. The 30-year-old lowered his season ERA to 3.91.
While not much offense was required, the Mets’ lineup set the tone from the very first at-bat.
In the bottom of the first, leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor walloped his 24th homer of the year to right center field and the Amazins never looked back. Lindor tallied two hits and a walk on the afternoon raising his season OPS to .810.
Pete Alonso joined in on the fun in the bottom of the third smashing his 27th homer of the season giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. Mark Vientos continued his breakout season adding an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth giving the club a 4-0 lead.
All of the Mets’ damage was accounted to starter Max Meyer who tossed four innings allowing four earned runs. Skip Schumaker’s bullpen, however, was untouched. The Marlins’ stable combined for four scoreless innings once Meyer was removed from the game.
However, Severino’s dominance makes their performance a mere footnote.
Now Carlos Mendoza will turn the ball over to Paul Blackburn on Sunday to complete the sweep. Valente Bellozo will toe the slab for the Marlins to try and salvage the series.
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