Zac Thornton’s stellar Mets start came with a fulfilled promise to manager Andy Green

Zac Thornton walked off the mound yelling, his left fist pumping, after throwing his most significant pitch of the afternoon. 

The left-hander, allowed to remain in Saturday’s game with two runners on base in the seventh and the Mets ahead by four runs, got Anthony Volpe to hit a grounder for an inning-ending double play.

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The celebration began for the Mets rookie, aware that his superb day’s work was complete and he had fulfilled his vow to interim manager Andy Green. 

“Andy had come out and just asked where I was at,” Thornton said after the Mets’ 12-2 victory over the Yankees. “I said, ‘I wanted this guy,’ and I was going to get the double play for him.” 

In all, he allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk, striking out four over seven innings, needing only 81 pitches. 

“It was pretty impressive for him to call [the double play] right there and get it,” Green said. “I don’t know that I am going to believe him every single time he says it, but it was a great way for him to end a really good start.” 

Green noted an uptick in Thornton’s velocity throughout the game, with a four-seam fastball that peaked at 96 mph. He’s averaged 92.1 mph with that pitch this season. 

“It gives him so much more margin when he can live at those numbers,” Green said. “It speeds guys up even more, makes earlier decisions on cutters, open hips faster, gives him the outer half access when he needs it or wants it, so in every regard [velocity] just makes it easier.” 

It was a return to form for Thornton, who surrendered six earned runs (including four homers) in a loss to the Giants last weekend. With his latest strong performance, his ERA dropped to 3.44. 

Thornton retired the first nine batters he faced before Paul Goldschmidt doubled leading off the fourth.

Cody Bellinger’s RBI single sliced the Mets lead to 4-1, but Thornton retired the next two batters. 

Francisco Lindor’s defense the previous inning provided a boost: The shortstop ranged into the hole and unleashed a strong throw to nail George Lombard Jr. at first base to begin the inning. 

Bellinger homered against Thornton in the sixth for the second Yankees run. In the seventh, he allowed a single to Spencer Jones and walked Lombard before getting Volpe to hit into the inning-ending double play. 

Thornton was asked about the adrenaline of pitching in the Subway Series. 

“I love pitching in front of New York fans, whether it’s Yankees fans or Mets fans,” Thornton said. “I think it’s some of the best fans in the world, so I would continue pitching here.”