The Mets opened 2018 with an 11-1 record but they would have dropped to .500 with a loss Friday night.

Jacob deGrom, however, delivered one of his best starts of the season to lead New York to a 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks in their series opener at Citi Field. Arizona has now lost eight of its last nine games.

New York scored twice in the first on an RBI groundout by Wilmer Flores and a single by Michael Conforto two batters later.

That was all the run support deGrom needed. He allowed just one run and six hits while striking out 13 over seven innings of work.

New York added an insurance run on another RBI single from Conforto in the fifth. Robert Gsellman and Jeurys Familia combined to pitch two scoreless innings in relief to secure the Mets’ victory.

Conforto finished the game 4 for 4 at the plate with the pair of RBIs.

The start was deGrom’s second since returning from an elbow injury he suffered while swinging the bat in early May. He was activated from the disabled list Sunday and faced the Phillies, but was removed after a 45-pitch first inning.

New York moves to 21-19 on the year with the win while the Diamondbacks fall to 25-19.

Studs of the Night

Mookie Betts hit his 14th home run of the season and went 3 for 5 with two RBIs in Boston's 7-4 loss to the Orioles.

Dustin Fowler belted his first career home run in the A’s 3-1 victory over the Blue Jays. Fowler totaled two RBIs in the game and scored a pair of runs.

Duds of the Night

The Rangers scored early and often on White Sox starting pitcher Carson Fulmer. He walked five and surrendered eight runs in just two innings.

Reds starter Homer Bailey pitched 4 2/3 innings against the Cubs, allowing six runs and 10 hits. He also walked five batters. Bailey now has a 6.11 ERA in 2018.

Highlight

Indians right fielder Greg Allen robbed Alex Bregman of an opposite field, two-run homer in the first inning.

Just your average, ordinary, everyday superhero.



Hello, Greg Allen -- glad you're on our team!#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/zYjCEmAyFd — Cleveland Indians (@Indians) May 19, 2018

What’s Next

Dodgers (17-26) at Nationals (24-18) 2:05 p.m. and 8:05 p.m. ET — The Dodgers and Nationals will play a doubleheader after the opening game of their series was rained out Friday night. The start of 2018 has been disastrous for Los Angeles and it has dropped nine of its last 11. But, the Dodgers did top the Marlins on Thursday to snap a six-game losing streak. The Nationals have won four in a row but haven’t completed a full game since Sunday because of rain.