Luis Severino continues to dazzle even as Mets see winning streak end
The longest Mets winning streak since 2018 came to an end Sunday, but Luis Severino’s resurgence did not.
The right-hander was superb again in a 3-1 loss to the Reds, as Severino gave up one run over 6 ²/₃ innings.
It’s the fourth time in his last five starts Severino has given up one or no runs.
And the lone run he allowed came on some soft contact, as Ty France started the rally with a slow chopper to first. Noelvi Marte drove in the run with a 79-mph single to right field.
Earlier in the game, Severino pitched out of trouble in the fifth after a couple of soft flares put him in a jam.
“Bloopers are gonna happen,” Severino said. “We are navigating through lineups. I feel good. I’m making my pitches. Hopefully luck is gonna go my way.”
It didn’t on Sunday, as Phil Maton gave up two runs in the top of the ninth and the top of the Met lineup went silent. But for Severino, it was yet another encouraging outing.
Coming off an excellent start against Boston, Severino retired the first seven batters he faced.
Cincinnati didn’t pick up a hit until Jake Fraley’s bloop double to start the fifth.
Santiago Espinal followed with a bloop hit to right to put runners on the corners with no one out.
Severino then picked off Espinal at first and, with the infield in, struck out Marte.
He got Will Benson swinging with a 98-mph four-seamer to finish it off and keep the game scoreless.
“I always had the power to reach back with runners on base,’’ Severino said of the added velocity.
And even though it didn’t come in a victory, the Mets will take it.
“Especially where he’s at innings-wise, for him to go out there and execute was great,’’ Carlos Mendoza said. “It was a good sign.”
With each start, Severino continues to blow by the workload he was able to put up in recent years.
Since he threw 191 ¹/₃ in 2018, Severino hadn’t worked more than 102 innings in the majors, which he did in 2022.
He’s now up to 166 innings.
Only 15 pitchers had worked more innings entering Sunday — none with the Mets.
“He’s been unbelievable,’’ Brandon Nimmo said. “He’s pitching with a lot of confidence.”
Only Tylor Megill failed to pitch at least six innings the last time through the rotation and Severino has been a significant contributor to the durability of the rotation.
“A lot of guys have been horses out there,’’ Nimmo said. “They’ve kind of made seven innings their staple the last few weeks.”
No one more than Severino.
“I’m proud of [Severino],’’ Nimmo said. “He’s having an amazing bounce-back year.”
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