The Mets broke a three-game losing streak in most unusual fashion, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie it and then scoring three runs in the bottom of the 11th to win it, 9-8, Thursday night.
- Jose Reyes crushed a two-run homer to send it to extra innings and Asdrubal Cabrera walloped a three-run blast to win it.
- Curtis Granderson opened the scoring with a two-run homer. The other Mets runs came via Yoenis Cespedes, although he did not leave the yard. He delivered an opposite field single to tie the game 3-3 in the fifth inning and a double to left in the seventh to give the Mets a 4-3 advantage.
- The big negative in the game was the team’s normal reliable back end of the bullpen both giving up runs. Addison Reed surrendered a three-run homer in the eighth and Jeurys Familia was responsible for both runs in the 11th. But that’s what happens when guys are overworked. Somehow, the Mets have a dozen relievers and Reed, Familia and others are in desperate need of a day off.
- What a roller coaster ride, with Wednesday’s bitter loss when an apparent walkoff homer was instead caught and then Thursday when the game looked lost repeatedly only to come back and win.
- Offense is fun.
Never thought I’d see the day when Reed and Familia would cough up 5 runs in a win.
Two hours later, and I’m still trying to find words. I don’t know how you even wrote a recap Brian. All I could write is “Wow. Can you believe what happened tonight at Citifield?”
In the ninth inning, I was thinking about the Stones’ “No Expectations” and then Reyes hit his homer. After that, it was unreal. And somehow when Cabrera hit the game-winner – I can’t say I expected it but at the same time, it didn’t surprise me at all.
An amazing string of game ending at bats…this one for the Win!!!!!!
Holy Schmidt!!!!
What is there 9 games left? Can we go 7-2?
I think Reed and Familia being gassed is an issue. It is more efficient to keep players fresh than to use a burn-and-recover strategy. Once depleted, I believe it’s harder to get back to top efficiency.
These are not easy games to manage. There is a lot on the line. I don’t want to nit-pick any specific moves. However, to my main point:
Last night, TC used Blevins, Edgin, and Goeddel for one batter. Henderson faced two batters, but only because the first batter walked.
Most egregiously, to me, was bringing Gilmartin into the game in the 6th and only allowing him to pitch 2/3 of an inning.
One of the lessons to this crazy season has been that unexpected pitchers have shown an ability to get outs: Lugo, Ynoa, Gsellman. Sometimes there’s no other choice.
What I don’t like is the lack of foresight that brings us to today, when possibly both (in caps) Reed and Familia are toast. It should never be both; those rest days should be staggered, anticipated.
Side issue: Amazing game, some tremendous performances. Four and a half hours long. These September rosters are not good for the pace of the game. Needs to get fixed, immediately. Teams should have “reserve” rosters, with 25 players available for each game. The pace is slowing down to a crawl and different roster sizes are inherently unfair.
BTW: Duda! That was crazy. A game of huge moments and almost-moments. I wish he could have had that one; I like the big lug.
Glad you mentioned Duda. Hopefully there are more ABs for him down the stretch.
We used to joke that TC had a clause in his contract paying him based on the number of relievers he used. If so, he’s cleaning up here in September. I wish it was an organizational goal to minimize (not eliminate) partial innings for relievers.
Great win! Their most feared homerun hitter, on two seperate occasions in the game, and two outs in the inning, goes opposite field to drive in important RBI’s because he knows how. It is why he is worth every penny of his $25m. The other seven runs were by scored with important homeruns at key parts of the game. Granderson’s 29th to get the early lead, Reyes to get the ninth inning tie, and Cabrera with his dramatic 22nd homerun to win it. This team was built around solid pitching (but the majority of the starters are on the disabled list) and the homerun. The homerun is taking them to the playoffs, I can’t imagine how great they would be with the dominant pitching. It is great to see this underdog, injury devastated team win. Let’s now take this series and not split.
Tonight’s matchup:
Helickson vs. Ynoa + Magic.
Phils don’t stand a chance.
Any chance Gabriel Ynoa can throw 9 innings?
What are we?…. 35 games into these “Playoffs”!!????…. that’s the way I look at August and September—This has been amazing fun and drama!!!!
The past 3 games have ended with my Heart in my Mouth!!!!
We’ve already gotten our playoffs!
I am remided of an Old Headline… “Mets Kiss .500 and Ask for More!!!!!!”
More!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Random thoughts on some of the discussion I’ve read and heard about Bartolo Colon and his “89% Fastballs” selection…He does throw 89% Fastballs… That’s true, but they are not all the same Pitch!!
He’s throwing 2 Seam and 4 Seam Pitches, and Cut Fastballs… he’s throwing with a variety of Speeds. Add the location of the pitches—he’s giving hitters a tremendous variety of “Fastballs”…. at least 4 different “Fastballs”. He also has tremendous movement at all speeds, similar to what Jamie Moyer was able to do at very modest velocity….that’s a unique product of unique talent.
The Pitcher who wants to copy Bartolo needs to develop command of the variety of Fastballs thrown— you cannot just go out there and “Throw Fastballs Like Bart”, anymore than you can copy the pitch selection of any successful pitcher without mastering and commanding the selection.
This may be the future of pitching and arm health—to throw a “lower stress” Pitch. I don’t like to hold up Bartolo as a “how to stay healthy” example—he had 5 years of arm trouble and a very mysterious recovery!….eh…maybe he just stopped hurting his arm when he began throwing mostly fastballs.
I don’t think most pitchers are capable of the degree of craft that Moyer and Bartolo developed over long experience…and it’s also hard to recognize the necessary talent to do what they’ve done—- it’s so much harder than just going out and busting a Radar Gun.