New York Mets rookie pitcher Zac Thornton fulfilled a promise to interim manager Andy Green on Saturday, pitching seven strong innings and leading his team to a decisive 12-2 victory over the Yankees. Thornton, who allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four, needed only 81 pitches to complete his outing.
"I wanted this guy," Thornton told Green, referring to Yankees batter Anthony Volpe, with runners on base in the seventh inning. "And I was going to get the double play for him." Thornton's successful execution of the double play sealed the inning and his standout performance. Green acknowledged Thornton's confidence, stating, "It was pretty impressive for him to call [the double play] right there and get it."
Mets interim manager Andy Green speaks with the umpire during the first inning of a game against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 12, 2026.
Green also noted an increase in Thornton's velocity throughout the game, with his four-seam fastball reaching 96 mph, a notable jump from his season average of 92.1 mph. "It gives him so much more margin when he can live at those numbers," Green explained. "It speeds guys up even more, makes earlier decisions on cutters, open hips faster, gives him the outer half access when he needs it or wants it, so in every regard [velocity] just makes it easier."
This performance marked a return to form for Thornton, who had previously surrendered six earned runs, including four home runs, in a loss to the Giants. His latest strong outing lowered his earned run average to 3.44. Thornton retired the first nine batters he faced before Paul Goldschmidt hit a double in the fourth inning. Cody Bellinger later drove in a run with an RBI single, narrowing the Mets' lead to 4-1, but Thornton responded by retiring the next two batters.
New York Mets pitcher Zac Thornton (49) reacts after ending the 7th inning of the Yankees and Mets game on Sept. 12, 2026, at Yankee Stadium.
Thornton expressed his enjoyment of pitching in the high-stakes Subway Series. "I love pitching in front of New York fans, whether it's Yankees fans or Mets fans," he said. "I think it's some of the best fans in the world, so I would continue pitching here."