Oh wow… Baseball, man…
In a game that defies recapping, the Mets widened their lead in the NL East to six games over the Washington Nationals and dropped their magic number to 19. It really wasn’t as simple as that, though.
With a chance to make a statement about his health and future, it seemed like Matt Harvey let his distractions distract him tonight. In the first two innings, he didn’t have his “out” pitch. The Nationals had him die the death of a thousand nicks in the first inning, plating two runs on five not-hit-hard singles. David Wright got one back in the second, with a mammoth homerun into the left field stands off Nats’ starter Jordan Zimmermann. Washington returned the favor, though, on a leadoff walk to Michael Taylor, a bunt by Zimmermann, and a liner over third by Anthony Rendon, who got nailed at second trying to stretch it into a double. Little did anyone know that would prove costly to the Nats.
Harvey settled down, retiring seven in a row to take the game into the sixth. For his part, Zimmermann was mostly impenetrable, though he did rack up a high pitch count leading to his own sixth-inning exit. It was in that sixth inning where all the fun started.
After the Mets stranded Curtis Granderson on third following a one out triple, Matt Harvey headed out to begin his sixth inning of work, having thrown only 59 pitches. That number went up in a hurry. Yunel Escobar led off with a base hit and Clint Robinson walked. Ian Desmond followed with a hard sacrifice bunt that Harvey mishandled and everyone was safe. Met-killer Wilson Ramos then struck out and it looked like Harvey could wriggle free of the jam, but Taylor hit a five-hopper up the middle that Mets’ centerfielder Yoenis Cespedes completely whiffed on and the ball rolled all the way to the wall. The swift Taylor came all the way around and Washington had a sudden and disheartening 7-1 lead.
Nats manager Matt Williams had to be hoping for a shutdown inning after all those shenanigans. He didn’t get it. Wright led off with a line single to right off reliever Blake Treinen. After Lucas Duda flew out and Travis d’Arnaud hit a popup to short, Michael Conforto drew a walk and Wilmer Flores delivered an RBI single. Williams brought in lefty Felipe Rivero, while Mets manager Terry Collins sent up Juan Uribe to pinch hit. Uribe worked out a walk of his own to load the bases. Granderson then finagled another walk to knock in Conforto and make it a 7-3 ballgame. Drew Storen — the Nats’ erstwhile closer and sacrosanct “eighth-inning-guy” — came on to try and nail this important game down early. Proving yet again that baseball is a game of redemption, Cespedes rocketed a pitch down the left filed line, clearing the bases and bringing the Mets within one. Storen then became unglued, walking Daniel Murphy, Wright and Duda in succession to bring this game to a most improbable tie.
After Addison Reed held off the Nats in the bottom of the seventh, Washington closer and picklepuss Jonathan Papelbon came on to keep the game tied. He got Conforto to pop out to second. He got Flores to hit an infield grounder. Kirk Nieuwenhuis came on to pinch hit for Reed and hit the third pitch he saw into the second deck in right field for the lead.
Yes, you read that correctly: Kirk. Nieuwenhuis. He hit a pinch homer.
Tyler Clippard pitched a shutdown eighth, the Mets went meekly in the top of the ninth and Jeurys Famnilia came in to close it out. He surrendered a leadoff single to Jayson Werth. Rendon then bunted into a force play. With every Met fan’s heart in his or her throat, Bryce Harper — oh-for-everything so far this series — drew a walk. The dangerous Escobar then sent a big hop to Wright, who threw it around the horn for a game-ending double play and an extremely serious blow to the Washington Nationals’ playoff chances.
Can you believe this game or what?
It is impossible to imagine seeing what I just saw.
The Mayor has quit his position.
And I have relocated to Hopeful Hollow…
Just spectacular.
I was sure that Wright was a singles hitter and that he shouldn’t bat cleanup. So of course he immediately hits a HR and Cespedes comes up in the biggest spot of the game with the bags juiced.
The game continually surprises us anew.
And Kirkkkkk! Actually, I liked that matchup with Paplebon and called the HR in my livingroom, I just thought he had a shot with a straight-forward thrower like (the hated) Paplebon, who has lost a little bit off the fastball.
No one in that lineup scares me more than Rendon, a player I absolutely love, so thank you, Matt WIlliams, for playing for the tie when you bullpen was already shot. And also, it was nice of you to keep Storen in the game.
I don’t believe that anybody can justifiably look into that Mets dugout and watch this team compete and then complain about the manager. Obviously, clearly, there’s a lot of things going right. They are really playing well, and playing together. It’s impressive and fun to see.
Let’s Go Mets!
You have no credibility on Kirk Nieuwenhuis so stop it with this I called it BS
Yeah, I made that up so I could look like a big shot on the interwebs.
I was also convinced, earlier, that the game was lost, already thinking about deGrom.
Said manager Terry Collins: “He struck out early in the game with a guy on. It was the first time I’ve seen any emotion out of him. He threw his bat. He was mad. He went out. He made a big error. He came in. And to the man, they went over and patted him on the back. They said, ‘Let’s go. We’re still in this.’ I mean, every guy. Every single guy. Every pitcher. Every coach. Every player. And that’s the respect they have for him as a player. I thought it was really cool to see.”
He also had a strong Harvey interview which I mentioned in the chatter. IMO this is why he is the manager of this team. If he reaches the goal he was hired to achieve in 2015 then he rightfully should get a new contract. As a fan, the strategy is part of the game talk, and to say that he is immune to critisism only adds to his monicker Teflon Terry.
It’s not that no criticism sticks with Terry. Everybody knows that TC has faults. It’s just that all-criticism all-the-time ignores an important part of the story. Look at the spirit of this team. Look at the way they are playing. Something is going right.
Series win, six games up and in First Place. Can we sweep tomorrow with our Ace on the mound?
David Wright has shown why he is Captain America. I am very happy for such a class player. Cespedes is making a very strong bid for MVP. He has put the Mets on his back day in and day out. Imagine having him in the future with this pitching staff! Sandy has to get an accolade by bringing in Clippard and following it up by getting Reed. Reed-Clippard-Familia are a strong back end of the bullpen.
The last two days have shown that this team does not quit. It is time to stop this foolish talk of collapse and begin to enjoy and marvel in the joy of the moment. This doesn’t happen often. Enjoy it.
Mayor Chris F – I expect to see your letter of resignation in the morning. I understand they have an opening in Panic City DC if you are interested.
8 September 2015
Office of the Mayor
Roosevelt Avenue
Panic City, NY
Fellow Citizens:
No longer being of sound mind and matter after events that have recently transpired, it is my duty to inform you that, effective immediately, I am resigning from being Mayor of our needlessly troubled, highly panicked city. There is no reason for panic. All is well. In departing let me ask each of you to recall a sentiment made by a former resident of the town:
“Ya Gotta Belive”.
My fellow citizens, now is the time to heed that beautiful thought.
Sincerely,
Chris F
Former Mayor, Panic City
Nice game tonight, yeah baby.
I forgive the mayor. Batman still needa to redeem himself. Unbelievable game. Wow.
I got in the car and turned it on and it was 7-1 with two outs. I pulled into the driveway and it was 7-2. I talked to my wife for a few minutes, pulled the game up and it was 7-6 with Duda batting. Just unbelievable!
When we started the Chatters it was Chris F and Metsense and Name and me tuning in night after night even though the season was hopelessly over. I’m happy for everyone that we’re getting to experience this now but those are the guys that I know were watching every game in Septembers when we were 20 games out.
I’m most happy for them. And me. Because this is so sweet.
Chatters have been a remote form of group counseling for years. It is awesome we are still here and literally bursting with joy together now after riding the pine through the darker years. Thanks for giving us the forum, but more importantly, thanks for being the core of our group. Its been awesome — and now even more with more folks to share with on the Chatters.
Last night just might have been a merged flash back to 1986 and 1969…Im still not sure. I do know I was cheering very hard in my living room!
I loved Kurt’s comment: ‘Papelbon’s got a great “splittie,” and I didn’t want to stick around for that…’
Sorry he doesn’t figure in the highlights more often, I always want to hear what he is going to say.
Yes, that was a great comment and a good approach to take. Another argument against working deep counts in some situations. Letting a guy like that get two strikes on you, for a hitter with Kirkkkkk’s known weaknesses, would not be the path to success.
I’ve always liked Kirk, the man. And as a 24th/25th guy, he’s often been good. Terrific glove, good speed, occasional pop. He’s been fighting for his ML life this year, and mostly losing. Cleared waivers. 32 teams passed on him, even though he makes next to nothing. Nobody wanted him. He failed spectacularly early in the season. I am happy for his success last night, always glad to see an underdog do well, if only for a moment.
I’ve never loved the “AAAA” player tag, but he’s been a poster boy for that label. It’s a cruel, unforgiving game. Happy to see him succeed, and was glad to see him called up. He’s spent a lot of time in that clubhouse and knows how to fit in. I feel much the same way about Eric Campbell.
I should also add that Kirkkkkk and Campbell were representative of what was wrong with the Mets in early 2015. To win, they needed to upgrade.
Well, why the continued romance with Eric Campbell I cannot imagine.
Kirk left a sizable portion of his game on the minor league playing fields, running at high speed into immovable objects such as fences and Mother Earth, always trying to make the play. Not necessarily the smartest move, but a surefire way to my heart.
I have always been a Mets fan since 1962. at my first Met game in the Polo Grounds I saw Casey manage the team. god they were bad. But I was hooked. Loved walking in high school with my transitor radio in 1969. Loved 1973 and 1986 and 2000 and 2006 Good and bad, up and down. Met fans are always being tested by God. Enjoy this time Met fans. Good things happens to those who wait. Lets go Mets