The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JASRADO “Jazz” Chisholm Jr faced two-time Cy Young award winner Jacob deGrom and took the Mets’ ace 100mph fastball for a deep shot to right field for his first home run of the 2021 season.

Chisholm’s 402-foot home run in the second inning was the Miami Marlins’ first run of their 3-0 win Saturday at Citi Field in New York. The Marlins’ second baseman trailed 0-2 in the count after he took deGrom’s first 100mph fastball for a strike and swung early at the second pitch in that at bat, clocked at 99 mph. Chisholm said he expected an off speed pitch next in the sequence, but was able to drive the third fastball to the upper deck in Citi Field with an exit velocity of 107.4 mph.

“I was told it was an angry 100mph and it gets on you but after I took the first pitch I realised it didn’t get on me how I was expecting like everyone else said. Then I got an 0-1 fastball and I was early.

“I was thinking he would be thinking the same way I was, ‘he’s early on my fastball and since he’s so far out front I’ll throw an offspeed pitch’ so I was looking for an offspeed pitch but he threw me a fastball up and I just reacted to it, got my hands above the ball,” Chisholm said.

“I couldn’t have been more excited to face any other pitcher in the league. He definitely has my respect. “

It was the first 0-2 home run deGrom has allowed in the majors. “I wasn’t thinking anything crazy. I just hit a home run off deGrom, that’s cool, but I have to go try and do it again,” Chisholm said. “I feel like my abilities should allow me to hit a home run off of anyone. My hands should be able to get to any ball that I can swing. I felt like it was just another pitcher out there but obviously it was the best pitcher in baseball today but I felt like I was supposed to do that.”

In the fifth inning, Chisholm struck out swinging after deGrom delivered a fastball on the first pitch, followed by five changeups. deGrom went on to finish with a career best 14 strikeouts over eight innings.

“He sold out for it,” deGrom said. “Probably should have done a better job recognising he was going to try to get to that fastball.”

Miami manager Don Mattingly added: “Jazz is Jazz, I think that’s the main thing you let Jazz be himself, he’s confident in what he does...“This kid’s growing up right in front of our eyes.”

The Mets won game one of the series, 3-2 on Thursday night, on a controversial ending. The Mets’ Michael Conforto, with the bases loaded and one out in a tie game, was hit by a pitch to force in the game-winning run. Home plate umpire Ron Kulpa later said he should have called Conforto out.

The series finale on Sunday afternoon was suspended due to rain after just nine pitches. The nine-inning game will be resumed as part of a split doubleheader, beginning at 1:10pm on August 31. The seven-inning nightcap will start at 7:10pm.

The Marlins are now 2-6 on the season and in seven games, Chisholm is hitting .200 with four hits two RBI, a .346 OBP and .846 OPS.

In 21 games last season he hit .161 with a .563 OPS a .242 OBP, nine hits, two home runs, nine runs, six RBI, and two stolen bases.

Chisholm’s first home run of his major league career came seven games into his debut season on September 9 against the Braves. He became the third youngest Marlins player to have a game with a home run and a triple. The only players to do it at a younger age were Giancarlo Stanton and Jeremy Hermida. In the regular season finale, he hit his second home run of the season and finished 2-4 with three RBI and scored two runs against the New York Yankees.