For the second straight game, the Mets fell behind the Brewers only to come back and earn the win, this time a 5-4 victory Saturday afternoon.
- Eric Campbell opened the ninth with a single, his second hit of the game. Kevin Plawecki followed with a walk, Matt Reynolds came thru with a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. After an intentional walk to Curtis Granderson, David Wright stroked a 3-0 pitch into the gap in right center, delivering the Mets’ first walkoff win of 2016.
- Granderson opened the scoring with a leadoff homer.
- The Brewers then scored the next four runs, chasing Jacob deGrom after just five innings.
- The Mets, no doubt to the delight of many, closed the gap with a scratch run in the bottom of the fourth, with Asdrubal Cabrera driving in Yoenis Cespedes.
- Cespedes tied the game in the sixth, with a two-run homer to left.
- Stop me if you’ve heard this before but the bullpen did another awesome job, delivering four innings of scoreless ball. Hansel Robles provided two innings. Terry Collins then chose Addison Reed to pitch the 8th, electing to use him for the third straight day rather than use Jim Henderson after two days off. Reed wriggled out of two-out trouble, handing the ball of to Jeurys Familia, who gave up a double but pitched out of it thanks to some bad baserunning by the Brewers.
- It’s been a tough series for old pal Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who is 0-7 with 5 strikeouts.
- Mets go for the sweep on Sunday, with Noah Syndergaard on the hill.
Thank you Brian Joura of Mets 360 for these “gut reaction” summaries posted seemingly ASAP after the last out of every game and delivering them to my inbox. I read each and every one of them. The Mets 360 stories that arrive in between games are always well written and often they are thought provoking.
Thank you!
Our goal is to get the GR up within 15 minutes of the close of the game. Sometimes the West Coast games wait until the next morning, though.
That’s nice to hear. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words.
Mets came up in the ninth eager to win it and did so in style.
Good job Eric Campbell.
Yeonis Cepedes is having an MVP type year. Reed and Familia once again! (with help from Robles)
Bottom of the order sets up the winning walk off run.
Series Win. Thor,put the hammer down and pick up a broom and get the sweep!
This game was a perfect example of Collins making odd decisions but coming out smelling like a rose. Reed, pitching for the third day in a row, over Henderson or Bastardo, Familia in a tie game at home, green light for strugglingWright to swing 3-0 against a struggling pitcher. A walk would have won that game too and a double play would have sent us to extra innings without the use of our 3 best relievers
There were some odd decisions made.
Reed pitching the third day when two others are available. It is called burning out your pitcher. But it worked.
Familia in the ninth was unconventional but logically.He was only going to pitch one inning as he was scheduled to bat third in the evening. He was their best pitcher to hold the tie and nobody really expected Campbell and Plawecki to start a rally. TC wanted a tie going into the 10th where his top of the order could produce the run. He needed Familia in the 9th to get him there and the 10th inning pitcher could pitch multiple innings if need be.
Reynolds bunting increased the odds of scoring from .61 to .65. That is not enough of an increase to give up an out, and the bunt has to work. He should have been swinging. Actually, TJ Rivera should be swinging but that has nothing to do with TC. Another question, should Campbell have been running on the 2 strike bunt attempt?
Wright swinging away was also unconventional but he his an expereinced ball player who most would have confidence that Wright would “pick his pitch” to swing and it turned out he did. If you have a hitters advantage, why give the pitcher a free strike on the best pitch that the hitter,Wright, can hit?
I am not a big fan of TC’s strategy but since the talent has been given to him he has produced a winning team and results are what matters most. When he can’t get the results then he may be crucified but maybe not. I didn’t dub him Teflon Terry for nothing.
The third
It’s become pretty standard for the home team to use their closer in the 9th inning of a tied game, with the rationale being he can’t qualify for a save in extra innings, anyway.
In the post-game interview, Wright claimed he didn’t even look at the third base coach, indicating it was his choice to swing 3-0.
according to sources post game, Wright said: “sometimes its better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission”
That’s a great quote.
I have mixed thoughts on DW swinging away on 3-0.
The worst result in that spot is a DP, of course, but from a hitter’s standpoint, a strikeout or infield pop up is the bigger failure. In those situations, a smart hitter is looking to swing early — anything to avoid a 2-strike count and a possible whiff. I do believe that was in DW’s mind, since he’s currently the K-King of MLB (rate-wise).
And by that I mean, it was smart. A veteran assessment of the situation. 3-0 count, mediocre pitcher, struggling, is bound to throw a get-me-over meatball in that situation. Very likely that would be the best pitch to hit. But, yes, also, I do think that fear informed that decision a little bit. He’s not the confident hitter he used to be. He did not think, “Let’s see this guy throw two strikes.”
And this is why, in part, it’s difficult to completely write off Cuddyer — whoops, I mean: Wright! — at this point. He’s experienced, he’s smart, he’s been successful for his entire career. If anyone can make these difficult adjustments, it could be him.
I think a lesser player in his physical condition would have packed it in by now.
The Bunt:
Swinging away, apart from the possibility of a triple play, you guarantee yourself at least 2 hitters getting an ab with runners in scoring position, So, given the possibility that Reynolds is not an experienced bunter, I was rooting for him swinging instead of bunting—in fact, I was kind of hoping for hit and run.
Hit and Run…Bunt… “2 strike approach”—- these are the 17 year Locusts of offensive baseball…they’ve been gone for quite some time—the skills and the approached seemingly lost…. I’m rooting for a Return of these skills and offensive tactics,