Robert Stock delivered the best start of his major league career Monday night, pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings to help the New York Mets secure a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The win marked the Mets' fourth consecutive series against a division leader, with the Rays entering the game boasting the American League's best record at 82-54.
Stock, a journeyman pitcher, has faced inconsistency in his starts this season, including outings where he allowed seven and eight earned runs. However, against the Rays, he limited them to five hits and struck out five batters without issuing a walk. This performance was a significant turnaround from his previous starts, contributing to his 5.88 ERA this season. Stock is competing to maintain his spot in the Mets' rotation as other pitchers, like Justin Verlander and Jonah Tong, are slated to become available.
Mets' Mark Vientos, recently activated from the injured list, provided an offensive spark with a seventh-inning solo home run, his 12th of the season. This blast came on the same day that Luis Robert Jr. was claimed off waivers by the Orioles. Vientos' home run extended the Mets' lead to 3-0 in the seventh inning, following an earlier run scored on Bo Bichette's double and Carson Benge's single in the fourth. Francisco Alvarez added an RBI single in the seventh.
The Mets' defense played a crucial role in supporting Stock. In the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, Christopher Morel made a leaping catch in left field to preserve the shutout. Morel also threw out a runner attempting to stretch a single into a double in the following inning.
The Rays managed to narrow the deficit in the eighth inning when Liam Hicks and Chandler Simpson each delivered an RBI single against Mets reliever Daniel Duarte, bringing the score to 3-2. However, Chris Devenski retired Cedric Mullins to end the threat with the tying run on third base. Kodai Senga closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save.
This outing represents Stock's third win in his 63-game major league career, which includes nine starts. He is currently battling to stay in the rotation as the team anticipates the return of other pitchers and the potential addition of Justin Verlander.