Written by Mike Puma at New York Post
The new guy in the starting lineup was silent Tuesday night for the Mets, but stood alone in that category.
So maybe manager Terry Collins was correct in his message to Jay Bruce before the game: He doesn’t have to be the savior, just a presence in what has the potential to become a solid lineup.
With every Mets starter except Bruce getting at least one hit — including Jacob deGrom getting two — the Mets rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Yankees at Citi Field.
Masahiro Tanaka was extremely hittable on a night the Yankees, who lost for the fifth time in six games, couldn’t touch deGrom.
Bruce, who was acquired from the Reds on Monday, batted third and finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. But the Mets still had their biggest game offensively since July 7, when they scored nine runs against the Nationals.
“The way we won tonight obviously makes an 0-for-4 a little better,” Bruce said after the Mets seized control with four runs in the seventh inning. “[Fans] were into it and I got some ‘Bruce’ as the game went on and that was cool to see. It sounded like they enjoyed having me here tonight and I hope it continues to be that way.”
Collins can’t wait to get Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes in the same lineup Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Cespedes, who has been bothered by discomfort in his right quadriceps, is expected to be the DH, after making a pinch-hitting appearance Tuesday.
“[Bruce] is going to make a big difference in our club and [Wednesday] night he and Ces’ in the middle of that lineup is a pretty nice looking duo,” Collins said.
DeGrom (7-5) was brilliant, firing seven shutout innings in which he allowed four hits and struck out eight with one walk to extend his scoreless streak to 14 innings.
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