Carlos Carrasco’s performance Thursday night was a microcosm of his brief tenure at Flushing: a terrifying start, but a steady end, as the Mets beat the Marlins 4-3 at Citi Field.
The right-hander gave up the local day at Miami race course, Miguel Rojas, on the first pitch he pitched, before a single from RBI Jazz Chisholm Jr. turn it into a two-run match at Carrasco’s 12th night camp. An unstable start, similar to his first four appearances at the Mets, in which his ERA reached 10.32.
In seven starts as a Met, Carrasco, who did not make his debut with the team until July 30 after breaking his right hamstring during spring training, has given up 21 races won, 12 of which have come at the first entrance.
“The first inning, it’s a fun thing for him,” manager Luis Rojas said after the Mets kept the winning streak alive. “It simply came to our notice then. Then you see it improve as the game progresses.
After Jonathan Villar responded with his own home run to advance to the end of the first and reduce the Mets ’deficit to 2-1, Carrasco settled. He didn’t give up any more until the fifth inning. By the time he left, after 5 ¹ / ₃ innings, he had already allowed four hits, three runs won, one walk and five kicks.
Carrasco, who was acquired in Cleveland with short camper Francisco Lindor in January, has reached an ERA of 4.15 in his last three starts, reducing his season ERA to 6.59. He’s also been able to pitch at least until the fifth inning or later above those starts, including a solid seven-inning in the Mets ’3-2 loss to the Giants last week.
“His stuff is tremendous,” Rojas said. “Everything, change, sliding control, change is elite against the right and the left. And then the fast ball just plays everywhere. He has a natural movement, he can cut the ball, he probably has no idea when he cuts and the ball sinks as well. I don’t know if he’s trying to sink.
“[He’s] just one of those hard throwers who has this move that will only wrap up a batter. “
The Mets have yet to be able to observe Carrasco in more depth, as he broke his hamstring in a running exercise during spring training. He was classified on the 60-day injury list in early May, but was activated in late July and debuted with the Mets against the Reds on July 30. .