Ewing Gives Mets Spark To Sweep Detroit

 

The crowd gives an ovation to A.J. Ewing  after he hit his first Major League home run. Photo by Jason Schott.

A.J. Ewing, one of the Mets top prospects joined the Mets on Tuesday, and got his first hit and a pair of RBIs to help them defeat the Detroit Tigers, 10-2.

Then, on Wednesday night, the outfielder took a little bit of a step back, as he had a walk and three strikeouts, but as the ghost runner in the 10th inning, Ewing came around to score on Carson Benge's game-winning single in the 10th inning, as the Mets won, 3-2.

So, on Thursday, as the Mets were seeking their first series sweep of the season, what would Ewing do to cap his astonishing debut?

The Mets were trailing 3-0, after Gage Workman hit a three-run home run to left field off Nolan McLean in the first inning.

Keider Montero kept it there until the third inning when Ewing led off, and hit his first career home run.

After taking the first pitch for a ball, Ewing tore into a 92-MPH four-seam fastball and it cleared the fence by the bullpen for a solo home run to get the Mets on the board.

A.J. Ewing approaching the plate after rounding the bases on his home run. Photo by Jason Schott.

Montero retired the next three Mets in order, but after some shoddy baserunning by Detroit in the top of the fourth inning - Gabe Workman thrown out at third base on a shallow hit to left field -extinguished a rally, the Mets went right back at it in the fourth.

MJ Melendez drew a two-out walk to keep the inning going, and bring up Brett Baty, who took one the other way to left field that had just enough to get out for a two-run homer to tie the game at 3.

Marcus Semien singled to get Ewing to the plate, and he hit one to shallow left field that usually would dunk in, but shortstop Kevin McGonigle made a leaping catch to nab it and end the frame.

In the bottom of the fifth, Montero was pulled with two outs and Juan Soto coming to the plate, in favor of left-hander Tyler Holton.

Soto singled up the middle to bring home Benge and make it 4-3 Mets.

Then, Mark Vientos hit a no-doubter down the left field line for a two-run home run and that opened up a 6-3 Mets lead.

The fact that Baty and Vientos - part of the prior Mets prospect class - both homered after the new kid on the block Ewing did shows that calling up a kid like this could provide a spark in other ways.

McLean, who had been spotty early on and bailed out by Detroit numerous times, stayed on for the sixth and, after starting the frame by walking Riley Greene, retired the Tigers in order, ending it with Zach McKinstry grounding to first base. (pictured below)

Nolan McLean fires it in and...

Mark Vientos scoops up the grounder at first base. Photos by Jason Schott.

Then, another young Met who will now be here for awhile, catcher Hayden Senger, executed a perfect suicide squeeze to bring home Marcus Semien in the bottom of the sixth and make it 7-3.

McLean, now really looking to close out on a high note, came out for the seventh inning and struck out Jake Rogers and McGonigle to end his afternoon.

The Mets went on to win 9-4 and the right-hander is now 2-2 on the season, as he threw seven innings, and allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks, while striking out seven.

Nolan McLean firing one in to Colt Keith in the first inning. Photo by Jason Schott.