Daniel Vogelbach has good night in Mets debut
Mets designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach returns to the dugout after he struck out swinging against the San Diego Padres during the second inning of an MLB baseball game at Citi Field on Sunday, July 24, 2022. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Newly acquired Daniel Vogelbach couldn’t have hoped for a better Mets debut than what he turned in on Sunday night. Acquired from the Pirates for righthander Colin Holderman on Friday, the lefthanded slugger went 1-for-3 with a walk and scored a run in an 8-5 win over San Diego.
He hadn’t played at Citi Field in his seven big-league seasons and hadn’t managed a hit off Padres starter Joe Musgrove in eight plate appearances. But after striking out in the second, he got the Mets’ first hit off Musgrove in the fifth. He walked in the sixth and scored from second on a flare single by Luis Guillorme in a five-run rally.
“Most important was it was in a win,” said Vogelbach, who will primarily play against righthanders. “I don’t know that I’ve played in an environment like this, at least as the home team. It was special.”
Manager Buck Showalter knew of Vogelbach’s problems against Musgrove — he was 1-for-7 with four strikeouts — but was undeterred about starting him.
“He welcomed the challenge,” Showalter said. “I’m very aware of his background: I watched every at- bat he’s ever had against [Musgrove] last night. I’m not going to let him sit around here five or six days without playing after a trade. We have a lefthander [Jordan Montgomery] on Tuesday after an off day tomorrow. He needed to play and get in the flow of our team tonight. He responded well.”
Extra bases
Injured reliever Trevor May (stress reaction of the humerus bone) pitched an inning for Double-A Binghamton, allowing a run and one hit with one strikeout and throwing 14 pitches. Showalter said he “did well and felt well” and will continue his minor-league rehab assignment this week. . . David Cone was at Citi Field to work in the broadcast booth for the ESPN telecast two weeks after having hip replacement surgery. He was moving around well and said he was “feeling great.” . . . . Mark Canha wore a mic and spoke with the broadcasters during the top of the third . . . . The Mets’ starters for the Subway Series will be Taijuan Walker on Tuesday and Max Scherzer on Wednesday . . . Catcher Michael Perez, acquired Saturday in a second trade with Pittsburgh, was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse before the game.
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
