Had it been a cardinal the Mets uncovered in their weight room Sunday morning, maybe there would be computer hacking concerns. But the wildlife roaming free was a raccoon.
“It was a little baby,” said pitcher Bobby Parnell, who had no worries about raccoons in the daytime and any subsequent disease danger. “I’d agree if it was out in the woods, but a raccoon in here today was probably just trying to run for its life.”
The Mets summoned an exterminating company that captured the critter and released it into the wild.
So figure the Mets upcoming promotions could include Cap Day, Mr. Met Bobblehead Day and Rabies Vaccination Night.
Zack Greinke’s scoreless streak ended at 45 ²/₃ innings, making it the fourth-longest stretch in the expansion era and the longest since Orel Hershiser’s record streak of 59 innings in 1988. Don Drysdale pitched 58 straight shutout innings in 1968 and Bob Gibson had a 47-inning run, also in 1968. Greinke pitched two scoreless innings Sunday before his streak ended.
Jacob deGrom now has 12 scoreless career starts, including a majors- best five of at least 7 ²/₃ innings this season. In four of those five starts, he allowed two or fewer hits. … Juan Uribe’s last game-ending winning hit: Aug. 14, 2010, with the Giants. … The Mets are 34-16 at home, tying the 1986 and 1988 teams for the best 50-game home record in team history.
In his second rehab game, Travis d’Arnaud, went 2-for-5 with two singles and a run scored as the DH for Double-A Binghamton in an 8-0 win at Trenton on Sunday.
Manager Terry Collins raved about rookie Michael Conforto’s plate approach. He particularly liked Conforto’s ninth-inning, full-count walk.
“That was a great at-bat,” Collins said. “He gets in the batter’s box, he knows the strike zone, he’s got plate discipline. He knows enough until he gets a deep count to get a good pitch to hit. The ball’s on the edge, he doesn’t swing at it until he absolutely has to. [Binghamton manager] Pedro Lopez told me this kid has the best plate discipline he’s ever seen.”
One thing that didn’t have Collins all warm and fuzzy was Conforto nearly colliding with center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. On Saturday, Conforto and shortstop Ruben Tejada avoided a nasty crash.
“I’m going to tell him, ‘I don’t know what they do in the minor leagues, but when the center fielder calls it, it’s his,’ ” Collins said.
Collins said he was excited about the matchup of Greinke and deGrom before the first pitch was thrown.
“This is what this league is all about when you get two of the best in the game hooking up,” Collins said. “That’s the thrill of being at this level. You try to compete against the best in the world.”