{"id":19678,"date":"2026-07-28T08:54:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T03:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=19678"},"modified":"2026-07-28T08:54:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T03:54:50","slug":"zac-thornton-shows-resolve-in-latest-mets-gem-who-he-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=19678","title":{"rendered":"Zac Thornton shows resolve in latest Mets gem: &#8216;Who he is&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>Zac Thornton\u2019s scoreless stretch is over.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But the rookie\u2019s latest solid outing has kept multiple streaks in play.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With his fourth straight start of at least six innings, Thornton earned his second career (and consecutive) win, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/27\/sports\/zac-thornton-continues-stellar-mets-start-as-francisco-lindors-big-night-leads-rout-of-braves\/\">leading the Mets to a 14-3 victory over the Braves at Citi Field<\/a> for the team\u2019s first back-to-back wins since July 8-9.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Thornton (2-1, 2.43 ERA) entered his fifth career start having thrown 18 straight scoreless innings \u2014 the longest such stretch by a Mets rookie since 2016 (Steven Matz) \u2014 but the southpaw allowed a run before his first inning was done. Still, the 24-year-old exited to a standing ovation in the rain.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Thornton (2-1, 2.43 ERA) allowed three runs, six hits and one walk in 6 \u00b9\/\u2083 innings, with five strikeouts on 81 pitches (54 strikes).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s who he is,\u201d Mets interim manager Andy Green said. \u201cThe guy\u2019s young, but he [doesn\u2019t] allow [anything] to affect his next pitch, which is not an easy thing to do as a rookie on a big league mound for the first time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40107691\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=104,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 104w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=80,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 80w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=200,135&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=231,156&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=322,217&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=654,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 654w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=89,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 89w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=119,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 119w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=1200,809&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/throws-pitch-1st-inning-new-135699581.jpg?resize=50,34&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px\"\/><figcaption>Zac Thornton pitches during the Mets-Braves game on July 27, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">Jason Szenes for the New York Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Entering the night, opponents were hitting .175 against Thornton. <\/p>\n<p>But the lefty surrendered three hits before he recorded three outs, seeing his shutout streak end at 18 \u00b2\/\u2083 innings after Ozzie Albies\u2019 run-scoring infield single. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The rookie allowed just three more hits over the next 5 \u00b9\/\u2083 innings, including a game-tying homer to Albies in the fourth inning.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI left a few pitches [in the] middle, and I gotta get back to what I do well, living on the edges,\u201d Thornton said. \u201cI\u2019m a competitor. [I think] I\u2019m gonna go out and beat whoever is on the other side of that field.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p>Green took away one of the only remaining reasons to come to Citi Field, giving Carson Benge the day off. Over the final two months of the season, Green said he will attempt to walk a fine line with Benge and fellow standout outfielder A.J. Ewing, balancing the rookies\u2019 health with their need to acclimate to the rigors of a full major league season.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mets Trade Deadline Preview with Jon Heyman | Straight Outta Flushing\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mL82wv2BmHI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s a balance of pushing them to places they haven\u2019t been before,\u201d Green said before Monday\u2019s game against the Braves. \u201cObviously the minor league schedule \u2026 is much easier than the major league travel schedule. You have to push them past where they\u2019ve been before, but not necessarily so far that they\u2019re in completely uncharted waters that you\u2019re putting them at injury risk. So that\u2019s just finding them a periodic off-day at strategic times \u2026 There\u2019s a really good chance you\u2019ll see A.J. get one [Tuesday or Wednesday] \u2026 I think we\u2019re just gonna strategically make those choices to keep them fresh, but also challenged.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-spotlight product-spotlight-block wp-block-nypost-editor-product-spotlight\">\n<p>\n\t\t\tMEts merch shop\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\tNew York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p>Infielder Mitch Voit, the Mets\u2019 2025 first-round pick, was promoted to Double-A Binghamton and is expected to debut with the team Tuesday. The 21-year-old appeared in 76 games this year with High-A Brooklyn, compiling a slash line of .242\/.349\/.745 with 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, 47 runs, 12 doubles and 36 stolen bases.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zac Thornton\u2019s scoreless stretch is over.\u00a0 But the rookie\u2019s latest solid outing has kept multiple streaks in play.\u00a0 With his fourth straight start of at least six innings, Thornton earned his second career (and consecutive) win, leading the Mets to a 14-3 victory over the Braves at Citi Field for the team\u2019s first back-to-back wins&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/crop-40107691.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}