Well, I guess it’s safe to assume the Mets will lose, but you can’t say they won’t surprise you along the way.
In a game that looked like the Mets’ 2018 season in microcosm — an early lead, a managerial gaffe, some over-aggressive base running and a late loss of that lead — a ninth inning homerun off the bat of Devin Mesoraco sent this game into extra innings, when Nick Markakis answered with a tenth-inning long ball of his own.
Mets starter Corey Oswalt danced around two base hits in the top of the first. The same could not be said about Atlanta starter Julio Teheran. Amed Rosario drew a leadoff, four-pitch walk and immediately stole second. Jeff McNeil grounded to second to send Rosario to third. Wilmer Flores brought him home with a bullet through the box that literally knocked Teheran’s glove off. The Mets were, let’s say “enthusiastic” on the base paths this day. Jose Reyes drew a one-out walk in the second and was balked over a base by Teheran. With Mesoraco at bat, Reyes tried to steal third but was a dead duck on catcher Kurt Suzuki’s perfect throw. The Mets added to their lead in the third. Rosario, having drawn his second walk of the day (!!) scooted home on McNeil’s line double to left. It became 3-0 when Austin Jackson launched a long homer into the left field seats. The Braves finally got on the board when Teheran hit a surprise homer — the first of his career — over the left field fence. The base running hijinx continued in the sixth, when Flores and Michael Conforto both singled to start the frame. Jose Bautista hit a bouncer to second. Flores tried to come home and was tagged out; Conforto was nailed at second base. That would prove costly in the top of the seventh, when Met tormentor Ender Inciarte would follow Johan Comargo’s base hit with a home run to right center, knotting the game at three. The managerial miscue would come two hitters later, after Dansby Swanson bunted for a base hit. Instead of waiting for right-handed Adam Duvall to be announced at a pinch-hitter, Mickey Callaway waved right-handed Paul Sewald in to relieve Oswalt right away. The Braves countered by sending up lefty-hitting Ryan Flaherty, who bunted Swanson over. That left Duvall available on the Atlanta bench for use in a later crisis. Meanwhile Sewald and Jerry Blevins turned the Braves away the rest of the inning.
Duvall was used in the ninth — to little effect, as it turned out — but the Braves took the lead, anyway. Inciarte led off with a base hit up the middle off Seth Lugo. Swanson bunter Inciarte over to second. After Duvall struck out, Ronald Acuna, Jr. laced a single to right and the Braves had a late lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Mesoraco hit his homer, needing the help of an umpires’ replay confirmation. Markakis needed no such help for his tenth-inning blast to center. The Mets continued to make it interesting in the bottom half, though. Flores shot a double down the first base line. Conforto moved him to third with a ground out. All Bautista had to do was get it into the outfield to re-tie the game, but grounded sharply to the drawn in third baseman Comargo and was thrown out at first, Flores having to hold his ground. Todd Frazier grounded weakly to Swanson at short to end it.
The Cincinnati Reds come to town tomorrow. Plenty of good seats available.
Tough one today.
In the chatter, we all wanted to see Oswalt go back out there in the 7th. Both HR he allowed were on fastballs at the letters. It’s where not having that extra bit on the fastball makes all the difference. We were told he could touch 95 but I don’t believe I’ve seen higher than 93 all year. Don’t recall a 93 today, either.
Bautista and Reyes a combined 0-8 with a walk. Sure hope both start every single game the rest of the year. It’s how we’ll win this year and in the future.
I only saw the end of the game, but I would have sent a runner in for Flores after he doubled in the last inning, he barely made it into second on that easy double into the corner. Wouldn’t have made any difference though.
Bautista is toast. He helped out a little bit when he got here, but since early July has sucked. He needs to go. Reyes, too, but it won’t happen. We’ll see these two the rest of the way, and when they name Ricco GM we’ll see both next year, along with a Murphy reunion. Maybe Duda will come back too
So why did calloway take Austin Jackson out of the game instead of Bautista? He can play RF too?
On the bright side the Rosario walks will mean Mickey will keep batting him leasoff….
A lot of–The use of irony to mock or convey contempt. Yet I’m going to the game on Tuesday night: really great seats at a great price. 110 down and 52 to go.
Everyday Reyes! Who needs to trade DeGrom for prospects? We got Jackson,Bautista and Reyes.
I am 100% fine with sending Oswalt out for the 7th…this is exactly the experience young kids need, regardless of the outcome.
We can debate lift angle and the modern approach of HR or bust all day, but once again Met hitters demonstrate zero baseball IQ – when a single wins or ties the game. I’ll call out Plawecki with a huge swing with the winning run on 2nd, and in the final AB Joey Bats seeing about 1,000 consecutive curves without adjusting, followed up by veteran Todd Frazier, who watched a first pitch offspeed meatball strike right after Bats saw all those curves. i would really love to know what they were thinking in those situations. I mean, prior to the lst decade or so, for 100+ years, weren’t hitters able to shorten up when the situation dictated?