Remembering Mets History (2023) Brandon Nimmo's Multi-Three RBI Game Leads the Opening Day Win in South Florida

Thursday March 30th, 2023: In 2022 Buck Schowalter's Mets had won 101 games but a late season collapse had them fall out of first place. Although they made the playoffs as a wild card, they were quickly eliminated in the NLWC series ending the year in disappointment.

The Mets began the 2023 season in South Florida, taking on Skip Schumaker's Florida Marlins. 

2023 Marlins: The Marlins surprised everyone that season winning 84 games (84-78) finishing ahead of the disappointing Mets making a wild card playoff berth, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Marlins offense was led by NL batting leader Luis Arraez (.354) & Jorge Soler who hit 36 HRs. The young pitching staff featured Sandy Alcantara who tossed three complete games, Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, A.J. Puk & Tanner Scott.

After winning three of the first four games in Florida, 2023 quickly become a nightmare for the Mets, as they would finish 75-87 in fourth place. First Edwin Diaz had injured himself foolishly celebrating in the World Baseball Classic being lost for the entire season. 

Top veteran pitchers Max Scherzer & Justin Verlander who started out the season, were both gone by the traded deadline. Also gone would be David Robertson, Mark Canha & Tommy Pham. At the end of the season the Mets would also part ways with manager Buck Showalter & hire Carlos Mendoza for 2024.

Sandy Alcantara retired the Mets in order in the first two innings. 

In the top of the 3rd, Daniel Vogelbach drew a leadoff walk. With one out, catcher Omar Narvaez singled to right field, sending the slow footed big Vogelbach to third base. 

Brandon Nimmo then lined out to left fielder Bryan De La Cruz, on the play Narvaez was thrown out at second base but Vogelbach was able to score the first run of the game.

Alcantara held the Mets to a run into the top of the 6th inning. With one out, Brandon Nimmo reached on a walk, he advanced sliding into third on Starling Marte's base hit to right field. 

Next Francisco Lindor drove Nimmo home with in his first run of the year on a sac fly to
centerfield. After Pete Alonso walked, Jeff McNeil singled to center scoring Marte making it a 3-0 Mets lead.

Sandy Alcantara allowed three runs on three hits, with four walks & two strike outs in 5.2 innings of work. Andrew Nardi closed out the 6th inning.

For Max Scherzer, after a leadoff single in the 1st inning to Luis Arraez he retired the next nine batters in a row, before issuing a walk in the 4th inning. Thru the first five innings, Max would hold the Marlins scoreless on a hit & two walks.

In the bottom of the 6th, he surrendered his three-run lead, giving up two straight doubles to Jacob Stallings & Luis Arraez, then a two out three run HR to Garrett Cooper. 

In six innings of work Max Scherzer pitched six innings, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out six & walking two. Scherzer earned the win on Opening Day & would go 9-4 with the 2023 Mets before being traded to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline for Luisangel Acuna.

In the bottom of the 7th, with Tanner Scott on the mound for Miami, Eduardo Escobar singled & Omar Narvaez walked. Brandon Nimmo then doubled to center field bring in both runs putting the Mets up 5-3 for good with the games winning runs. On the day Nimmo had a double, sac fly, walk, run scored & three RBIs.

Trivia: On the season, Nimmo would have 16 multi-RBI games with three games of three or more RBIs.

The Mets bullpen of Drew Smith, Brooks Raley & David Robertson closed out the final three innings.