What a game this turned out to be. Matt Harvey looked like a man on a mission tonight, as he went 7.2 innings, struck out 9 and allowed one run. He allowed his first hit in the sixth inning, and looked in complete control through his start. With two outs in the eighth inning, the umpires ruled that Harvey hit Clint Robinson on the foot, although the replay was did not show his foot getting hit. Maybe hit got his shoelace, but this call would haunt the Mets.
Luckily, the Mets ended up with a 2-1 victory and a storybook ending.
- Fans greeted Wilmer Flores to a standing ovation, and it would be well worth it, as he drove in both runs and hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 12th.
- Tyler Clippard struggled with his command in the ninth and had to be relieved by Jeurys Familia, who had a bounce-back game going 1.2 innings while allowing no hits.
- Carlos Torres looked great tonight, as he struck out the side in the 12th, and his fastball reached 95 MPH.
The Mets needed this game badly, as they start off the series right against the division leaders. Jacob deGrom will go against Joe Ross tomorrow night.
It might have buried the Mets for good, if they had lost. What a huge win by a franchise that always seems to find ways to lose. Getting cespedes (not sure if that’s right) will likely boost this team, and maybe all the way to a playoff run.
Look, there will be bumps in the road, lets be realistic. But, the kid has done some good things. Here’s something I saw tonight:
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ESPN Stats & Info ✔ @ESPNStatsInfo
Most walk-off hits this season
Wilmer Flores 3 (had one tonight)
Josh Donaldson 3 (had one tonight)
Starlin Castro 3
Retweeted by Mark Simon
I was shocked by Carlos Torres throwing 95 mph. He hasn’t given me many reasons to have confidence in him this year but if he’s going to blow guys away like he did tonight, he could be the relief pitcher to replace Mejia.
It will be nice to have Cespedes and Duda in the lineup tomorrow.
My candidate for Mejia’s replacement is Erik Goeddel when he returns.
Just a fantastic finish. Awesome.
I guess we should expect a shutout when Wheeler starts in his first game back from rehab. Flores not only had the game winning home run but knocked in both runs. Harvey wants to pitch with the game on the line and last night he was given the opportunity. He didn’t come through but chalk it up as a learning experience and I am sure that he will next time. Washington already has experience while it is the first time for this Met group.
The bullpen shut down the Nats and Familia got the 5 batters he faced which was a good sign.
In an important game, I don’t think starting your 25th man on the roster in LF was wise even if he bats RH. Campbell has a career split of 642 OPS vs LHP, a 633 total OPS for the year and a .533 total OPS over the past year. Kelly Johnson had a career 681 OPS vs LHP and is a better, more experienced player and would have been my choice. The double switch that took Uribe out of the game should have put Duda into the game so that he could have gotten more at bats. TC compounded the Campbell start by not pinch hitting Kirk to force the use of the Nat lefthanded pitcher earlier in the game thus removing a weapon from the Nats arsenal. Kirk also would have been an upgrade defensively in left field. Flores home run does not moot these points. TC needs to do a better job with his newly expanded roster.
A win tonight and we will be putting some real pressure on the Nats. I don’t think Campbell will be starting tonight in left field. LGM
Agree with every single one of your points, so naturally your post is excellent (in my humblest opinion!) 🙂
If you folks are interested, this is a very insightful place to read about how the Nats are feeling about things. http://www.natsinsider.com.
Basically, they are as upset with Matt Williams as any Mets fan has ever been with Collins. They are pissed that they cannot bunt. They cannot stand how their bullpen is used. They are depressed about their lack of offense. Sound familiar? LOL. The one theme over there that does not exist in Metslandia is that they seem convinced that there is a MLB and MLB umpire conspiracy against their here, Bryce Harper.
Let’s hope that Cespedes’ arrival brings more of a spark to the Mets than any sense of vengeance brings to the Nats.
This is just fantastic though, isn’t it? Meaningful and exciting Mets baseball late in August!
Hopefully it isn’t too exciting because the Mets are up by 15 games! 🙂
Hey Aging Bull,
Took your advice and read natsinsider. Very interesting! Just proves that we fans in every city know more than the pros in the dugout and in the front office. That’s what being a fan is all about—-passion.
Thanks.
Wilmer Flores! Boom, boom, ba-ba-boom! Wilmer Flores! Boom, boom, ba-ba-boom!
What the hell is Colon still on this roster?
Maybe he’ll be gone until Matz is back. Gee doesnt look bad in Vegas. Last 3 outings.
20.2 IP
2.61 ERA
19Ks
4 BBs
18 H
1.06 WHIP
1 game in Vegas, 1 in Sacramento and 1 in Albuquerque, which is an even bigger launching pad then Vegas.
Im not a huge Gee fan, but he was more than serviceable for several years. If he came up, he’d have a colossal chip on his shoulder and, if he threw well, he’d make for good trade bait. He’s dead to the Mets in AAA, IMHO.
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