Marcus Stroman Conquers Coors Field In Brilliant Start
Marcus Stroman has shined at Coors Field throughout his career, and he continued to conquer the chilly Colorado ballpark on Sunday afternoon. Stroman threw eight phenomenal innings in which he gave up just three hits on one earned run and a walk. He also struck out five en route to picking up his third win of the season as the New York Mets (7-4) defeated the Colorado Rockies by a score of 2-1 to pick up the series win.
Stroman was simply sensational on Sunday. He threw 90 pitches (62 strikes) and even had a behind-the-back grab on the mound to make a great play in the eighth.
The @STR0 show is not disappointing. ???? #LGM pic.twitter.com/n83JkWx4Ym
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 18, 2021
“He did a great job of limiting the damage,” said Michael Conforto, who also discussed how Stroman was relentless around the zone, and that he’s aware of hitters, their speeds, and timing. “He’s a smart pitcher, he knows what he’s doing up there.”
Conforto also said Stroman’s confidence in himself can be contagious and helps raise the confidence level of everybody around him.
In answering a question asked of him in the post-game press conference from MMO’s own Rob Piersall, the right-hander mentioned that “the mind is everything.” He spoke on how strong the mind is and how he’s been focusing a lot on his mental game this season. “When my head is clear and I feel super calm out there, I truly feel like I can be great,” said Stroman. He said when things get turbulent or start feeling off, he tries to find that calmness and a strong mental mindset.
When speaking on his play in the eighth inning, Stroman said it was all in the moment and all reaction. He credits his time in the weight room and his athleticism to being able to make that play, one he said he’s never made before.
Manager Luis Rojas also spoke with the media about his starter, saying “This year is the best version of him I’ve seen.” Rojas said Stroman’s repertoire expanded and he threw more types of pitches on Sunday, including the slider, sinker, and cutter.
“I think, right now, he’s really confident inducing contact, and that’s what he did in this game, that’s what he did in the first two,” said Rojas, who also credited Stroman’s offseason preparation for his success thus far.
Stroman is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA through his first 20.1 innings of work, and he’s laying the foundation for a very successful 2021 season.
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