CINCINNATI _ By now, there is not much more to be said about Jacob deGrom. You expect performances like his latest, and that might be the most fitting example of his greatness.
There is no stage too big for the reigning National League Cy Young winner. The Mets have needed him throughout the postseason push, and each time he's delivered with his best.
This time, he tossed seven scoreless in an 8-1 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. He was flawless and the Reds were overmatched.
On the road? With his team in striking distance of the postseason?
Automatic.
DeGrom continues to make quite the case for another Cy Young, but on Friday he helped keep the Mets alive. They need others to lose, but that won't matter if they do not win.
That never seemed in doubt in this series opener. DeGrom held the Reds long enough for Jeff McNeil to break a scoreless tie with a solo shot in the sixth. An inning later, Amed Rosario blasted a two-run homer. Pete Alonso then smashed home run No. 50, which gave the Mets a five-run advantage.
Truthfully, with the way deGrom pitched, it seemed over when Rosario's homer left the yard. On this night, a three-run lead seemed like a 30-run lead.
The guy who often doesn't get much run support from his teammates has not required much lately. He's been that good.
In the second half, deGrom has limited the opposition to one or fewer runs in 10 of 13 starts. In the three in which he did not, he still went a full seven innings. He has not had a clunker since giving up six runs over five innings on May 17 in Miami.
Yes, over four months ago. He has not merely been an ace by reputation or salary.
He's backed it with results.
On Friday, deGrom struck out nine while walking none. He only gave up four hits.
He ended three consecutive innings with a strikeout. He stranded a runner on second in two of them, and one on third in the other. The Reds stole bases, but deGrom denied them the big hit.
On the other side, the Reds' Luis Castillo lived up to the hype. The 26-year-old pitched well enough to win over seven innings, only surrendering the two homers to the Mets. Unfortunately for him, he went against deGrom.
There have been many games in which the Mets offer deGrom no support.
Not on Friday.
With his blast, Alonso became the first player in MLB history to reach the 50-homer mark in his first season. Aaron Judge and Ralph Kiner did it in their second seasons in the league.
McNeil, who broke the tie, has 16 second-half homers after only hitting seven before the All-Star break. Rosario, who entering Friday ranked fifth in the NL with a .325 batting average, added to his impressive campaign away from Citi Field.
DeGrom's exit further proved his worth. The Mets used three pitchers in the eighth inning, eventually going to Edwin Diaz to earn the final out of the frame to strand two runners. The Mets then scored three in the ninth.
To be clear: The Mets still have a ways to go. They entered 3 { games back of the second wild card. They might need to win out to snag it, so their work is not finished.
But once again, they could rely on their ace.
