NEW YORK (AP) – The latest on the World Series, where the New York Mets will try to pull even with the Kansas City Royals in Game 4 on Saturday night (all times EDT):
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6:30 p.m.
Noah Syndergaard’s high-and-tight fastball to Alcides Escobar was still a hot topic before Game 4.
The rookie’s first pitch Friday night for the Mets was a 97 mph heater just off the inside corner and above the head of a ducking Escobar. The ball sailed all the way to the backstop, and the skinny Kansas City shortstop went down to the dirt on his rear end.
Royals players shouted angrily at Syndergaard from the dugout. After the game, the young right-hander made it clear the pitch indeed had a purpose – to make Escobar and the rest of the Royals uncomfortable in the batter’s box.
Syndergaard had alluded Thursday to having “a few tricks” up his sleeve for the aggressive Escobar leading off the game.
“I didn’t expect him to throw a strike, but I didn’t expect him to throw it under his chin, either,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “But we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves, too.”
Yost said throwing near an opponent’s head is too dangerous, even if the intent is not to hit him.
“You can end a player’s career by not intentionally hitting them in the head,” the manager said.
Yost said he views the chest as the dividing line these days for what’s acceptable when pitching inside.
“You’ve seen us at times with Daniel Murphy pitch in on him, but it’s never been up and in,” Yost said. “It was an acceptable thing to be able to move guys away, up top. And we’ve kind of gotten away from that now.”