If before the game started, you were told that Jacob deGrom got pulled after two innings and that Michael Wacha was coming in with the game already at a 3-0 deficit, well you wouldn’t have given the Mets’ a snowball’s chance of winning. The Phillies actually had an 85.4 Win Expectancy during the second inning. But the Mets’ relievers were outstanding and J.D. Davis cracked three extra-base hits to lead the Mets to a highly-improbable comeback, as they emerged with a 5-4 win to even the series.

We’re so used to seeing deGrom blow away hitters that it was quite a shock to see him make it an entire time through the order without striking a batter out. He got through the first inning okay but ran into trouble in the second inning. After three runs were in, he finally got his first strikeout, when he fanned Bryce Harper, the 11th batter of the game for the Phillies. And the Mets caught a break on the same play, as Wilson Ramos threw to first base and picked off Andrew McCutchen.

The Mets scurried to get someone up in the bullpen during the second inning but when deGrom got out of the inning, everyone expected him back for the third. But instead we got recently-demoted Michael Wacha and it seemed the Mets were surrendering – for the game, the series and the season. And then Wacha gave up a homer to the third batter he faced. And then a miracle happened. Wacha ended up allowing just that one run during four innings of relief.

The Mets chipped away at the deficit. J.D. Davis led off the fourth inning with the first of his XBH parade, this one a double to right center. He scored later in the inning on a ground out. Then in the sixth, Brandon Nimmo doubled and came home to score on an opposite field homer by Davis and the Mets were down just a run.

Davis capped off his big night with an RBI double to tie the game in the eighth inning. It almost didn’t happen, as the runner on first didn’t take off when the ball was hit, as he should have with two outs. But Michael Conforto beat the relay throw to the plate and the crisis was averted.

Meanwhile, Justin Wilson threw a perfect seventh inning and Miguel Castro put two runners on in the eighth but wiggled his way out of the jam. After the Mets took the lead in the top of the ninth, Edwin Diaz came on and struck out the side to earn his fourth Save of the year.

Andres Gimenez, who has struggled all year coming up with the big hit, followed up an intentional walk to Jeff McNeil with a solid single to center field to give the Mets their first lead of the game.

Remarkably, as bad as the Mets are playing, they still have a shot at the playoffs. Philadelphia losing seven of its last 10 games certainly helps. There are still too many teams ahead of the Mets to feel good about their chances, even if the actual deficit isn’t too bad. But that they have a puncher’s chance at all is hard to believe.

It was announced during the broadcast that deGrom left with hamstring spasms. This game may be what keeps him from winning another Cy Young Award but the Mets managed to put up another win in one of deGrom’s starts. They’re now 8-2 when their ace starts a game.

4 comments on “Gut Reaction: Mets 5, Phillies 4 (9/16/20)

  • David Klein

    I’ve gotten on him for his lack of power but for one day Davis was the Davis of last year and they need that guy for the rest of the year. I thought Girardi pulled Wheeler for no reason at all and it cost him big time. I agreed with Girardi for intentionally walking McNeil but Gimenez came up big after chasing the first pitch I was sure he was gonna make an out. Wacha made his best start of the season in relief. Hopefully they get Jake an mri and hope he’s okay— I wouldn’t start him on short rest. No more Frazier vs righties please. Castro came up huge with the nasty change ups and Diaz was dominant with his fastball and continues to be a strike out machine. The Mets really need to flip flop McNeil and Cano in the lineup even with Cano getting a big hit. This was a fun win but I don’t see the Mets going anywhere this year still fun win

  • TexasGusCC

    Watching the Davis double in the eighth, Conforto was trying to be the goat but got lucky. He wanted to see if the ball went out so much that he strolled down to second and actually stopped for a split second before getting to the second base bag. He’s lucky to have made it when there shouldn’t have been a play on him at all as high as that ball was hit.

    I agree with David that if Davis can heat up for these last dozen games, maybe… you never know. Is it me, or does Dom Smith too often miss plays at first? Glad to see Wacha be the pitcher we hope he can be. As I wrote a week ago, his peripherals are good, but his results aren’t. Unlike Porcello who’s bad and bad. Alonso has had a brutal year. Humility check. Seth Lugo tomorrow… go Seth!

  • TJ

    We have all been tough on Diaz, myself included, but last night he was simply dominant. One pitch had too much plate and was thankfully hit on the ground. The others, especially his fastball, were spectacular. Harper and Gregorious, two pretty good hitters, were simply blown away. A small sample, for sure, but nice to see nonetheless. Nice job Mr. Diaz, in as high leverage a spot as there is in a regular season game.

  • Metsense

    Gut Reaction: Why do I get a churning in a stomach whenever the bullpen has a close game? Maybe because Diaz has blown 4 saves or Castro and Wilson have an ERA above 4.00. More games like this should relieve my fears.
    The bullpen was very good. JD did the heavy lifting and Gimenez seems to do a positive thing almost every time he is playing.
    Of the last 12 outs of the Phillies there were 10 of them were strikeouts.
    Base running has taken the Mets out of potential big innings. This problem needs to be addressed.

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