SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pete Alonso hit his 10th homer in the fifth inning — a two-run homer that keeps him the home run lead — to support Joey Lucchesi’s triumphant return to the majors after a nearly two-year absence for a season. elbow surgery and the New York Mets blanked the San Francisco Giants 7-0 on Friday.
Lucchesi (1-0) struck out nine, walked two and allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings in his first outing since June 18, 2021. The left-hander became the first pitcher for the Mets going into the seventh inning this season.
Lucchesi underwent elbow reconstruction surgery on June 24, 2021, six days after his previous major league game. His sensational debut in the current campaign took place across the bay from his hometown of Newark.
His 97-pitch gem included 59 sinkers averaging 91 mph and even a 92.6 mph off Mike Yastzemski in the seventh inning.
Lucchesi had never faced the Mets against the Giants, against whom he had pitched six innings here on Aug. 31, 2019 as a pitcher for San Diego.
Luis Guillorme hit an RBI single in the second before the Mets added another run in the fifth on a throwing error that missed catcher Joey Bart as he was trying to put out Jeff McNeil.
Anthony DeSclafani (1-1) is winless in his past three outings since April 3 and has never beaten the Mets in eight career starts.
For the Giants, Venezuelans Thairo Estrada 4-1 and Wilmer Flores 4-1.
For the Mets, Puerto Rican Francisco Lindor 5-1, one scored. Venezuelans Francisco Álvarez 4-0 and Luis Guillorme 4-2, one scored, one produced.
