NEW YORK — The Mets signed Justin Verlander to a record-tying contract to bring stability to their rotation. He’s beginning to do exactly that.
Verlander on Sunday night became the first Mets starter to pitch past the seventh inning in a game, firing eight innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 win over the Guardians. Combined with New York’s 5-4 victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Citi Field, the Game 2 result pushed the Mets’ season-best winning streak to five.
After serving up a solo homer to José Ramírez in the first inning, Verlander retired 22 of the final 24 batters he faced without permitting another runner past first base. The three-time Cy Young Award winner needed only 98 pitches to complete eight innings, and he required all eight on his ledger for the win.
Jeff McNeil finally pushed the Mets on top with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth, before reliever Brooks Raley recorded the final three outs for his first save of the season.
