Syndergaard recovers from rough start to quiet Royals

With the New York Mets down two games to none, the team put the ball in the hand of rookie Noah Syndergaard and the man they call "Thor" dropped the hammer in his first World Series appearance on Friday.

The 23-year-old, who was the first rookie pitcher to start a World Series game with his team trailing 2-0 since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981, got off to a rough start hurling a ball to the backstop on his first pitch. He proceeded to allow three runs over his first two innings of work, but recovered to shut down the Royals en route to a 9-3 win.

At one point, Syndergaard sat down 12 consecutive hitters before a Mike Moustakas single ended the streak. He also recorded 16 missed swings on the night; all other starting pitchers in the World Series have combined for only 19.

The youngster pitched six innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, while striking out six - including two strikeouts of the hot-hitting Alcides Escobar.

He also spoiled the big-league debut of Raul A. Mondesi, and did damage with the bat in his hands, singling off Royals starter Yordano Ventura in the third inning and later scoring a run. Syndergaard joined Tug McGraw and Dwight Gooden as the only Mets pitchers in franchise history with a hit and run scored in a World Series game.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Syndergaard owns a 3.32 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 19 innings of work across his four postseason appearances, three of which were starts.

The rookie would likely take the hill to start Game 7 if the series makes it that far.