NEW YORK _ Jacob deGrom is going for it.
The two-time Cy Young winner is vying for his third consecutive award in what is shaping up to be another marvelous season for the Mets ace.
DeGrom (3-1, 1.69 ERA) whiffed 12 batters in the Mets' 14-1 win over the Phillies on Sunday afternoon. He held them to one run, a solo shot to backup catcher Andrew Knapp, on three hits with two walks in seven innings and 108 pitches. His 35 swings and misses against the Phills are tied for the most in a game by any pitcher since at least 2008, per MLB.com. Danny Duffy also induced 35 swinging strikes for the Royals in 2016.
The Mets (19-22) continued squashing the Phillies' winning ways after the division rivals took the series opener Friday to collect their 10th win in 11 games. Since then, the Mets have won in back-to-back games as a result of playing good, clean baseball.
"Every day we're putting out there the team that is going to give us the best chance to compete and win," said manager Luis Rojas.
Pete Alonso, who was the Mets' designated hitter for the fifth time in nine games, hit his ninth and tenth home runs of the year in a two-dinger day. The slugger is finally showing signs of heating up _ after mashing his fourth home run in four games _ following a slow start to his sophomore season. Three other Mets in Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Wilson Ramos all homered as the Amazin's tacked on 17 hits against the Phillies.
Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish is right next to deGrom in the 2020 Cy Young conversation. Darvish leads the National League with a 1.44 ERA and leads the major leagues with seven wins.
