Christian Scott put together a "really solid" performance in his return from the injured list on Saturday, pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing only two runs in the Mets' 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Scott, 27, had been sidelined for over two weeks with a hip contusion. He surrendered a two-run home run to Bryce Harper in the third inning, but otherwise kept the Phillies in check. "Only had so many bullets to fire today, and he was good outside of one swing from Bryce Harper," said interim manager Andy Green.
Scott finished his outing with 82 pitches, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out six. He also generated 17 swings and misses, primarily utilizing his sweeper and four-seamer pitches. "I feel great," Scott said. "Felt like I attacked the zone pretty well for the most part. Just established my offspeed stuff early in the game and then kind of just rode the wave off of that."
Scott, who missed last season due to Tommy John surgery, currently holds a 3.20 ERA. He is seen as a potential long-term fixture in the Mets' rotation.
Meanwhile, pitcher Zach Thornton was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse despite a strong performance on Friday, where he held the Phillies to one run and struck out seven in six innings. The move was made to create roster space for Scott. "He definitely did well [Friday]," Green said. "It was conveyed to him. Oftentimes these things are just roster decisions that keep your bullpen viable as you go through stretches."
Thornton, 24, has been a bright spot in the Mets' farm system, earning a promotion after five starts at Double-A Binghamton. Top prospects Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger have struggled at Syracuse.
In other roster news, infielder Zack Short was outrighted to Syracuse. Jorge Polanco began a rehab assignment as the designated hitter for Syracuse on Saturday, his first game since June 5. Polanco has been dealing with ankle discomfort and a wrist contusion that placed him on the injured list April 15.