PHOENIX — New York Mets manager Terry Collins believes right-hander Jacob deGrom is becoming more of a pitcher with every outing.
“He’s more than one-dimensional,” Collins said after the Mets’ 6-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon. “His command of his stuff always has been pretty good, but then he started changing (batters’) eye levels and moving to both sides of the plate.”
The progression was apparent from the first inning Sunday, when deGrom allowed consecutive hits to lead off the game and watched two runs (one unearned) score.
DeGrom, however, retired 14 of the next 16 batters and at one point struck out five consecutive hitters en route to a 10-strikeout performance, his sixth career double-strikeout game and second this season.
He also finished with three walks, ending a streak of 26 innings without allowing a walk. DeGrom yielded three runs (two earned) on five hits in seven innings.
“I made some mistakes down the middle, and I was leaving it up in the first inning,” said deGrom, the 2014 National League Rookie of the Year. “After that, I was able to get it down and get some ground balls.”
DeGrom said he has gained a lot just from watching the Mets’ other pitchers, including right-handers Matt Harvey and Bartolo Colon.
“I wouldn’t say we compete against each other” deGrom said. “I’ve learned so much from those guys.”
Because of that education, deGrom more often than not is able to give the Mets big performances.
“We needed an outing from him today,” Collins said, “and we got it.”