David Peterson worked into the sixth inning on a day when his wife’s labor was imminent, and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 6-0 on Monday despite losing Jeff McNeil to injury.
Mets manager Buck Showalter joked Monday morning that New York was “on baby alert” as Peterson, McNeil and Seth Lugo await the arrival of their children. Lugo was placed on the paternity list before the game.
Peterson was prepared to leave the park in case his wife Alex went into labor with the couple’s first child, and the Mets had a contingency plan in place in case he was unable to pitch.
The call never came and Peterson (4-1) pitched 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts on 100 pitches. He allowed six hits and two walks to help the Mets win the four-game series with his 11th shutout of the season.
McNeil left the game in the fourth inning with a sore hamstring in his right leg after scoring on a wild pitch.
The Marlins went ahead 4-0 against starter Trevor Rogers (3-6) thanks to two sacrifice flies, a bases-loaded walk to Mark Canha and McNeil’s score. Rogers gave up three earned runs in five innings with seven strikeouts.
For the Mets, the Venezuelans Eduardo Escobar 3-1 with three RBIs; Luis Guillorme 2-2 with a run scored. Puerto Ricans Francisco Lindor 5-1; Tomas Nido 3-0. Dominican Starling Marte 5-1.
For the Marlins, the Venezuelan Miguel Rojas 4-2. Cuban Jorge Soler 4-1. The Dominicans Jerar Encarnación 4-0; Bryan de la Cruz 3-0.