The short-handed Mets pulled off a resourceful extra-inning win over the Tigers thanks to Wilson Ramos‘ bat, a rag tag bullpen and a walk-off home run by an unlikely hero.
Jason Vargas returned from the I.L. to make the start and delivered with five strong innings. The veteran lefty scattered five hits and three walks but stranded all but one runner to give the Mets a real shot. Wilon Ramos was the Mets entire offense early on, tying the game in the second with a solo home run, then giving the Mets a 2-1 lead in the fourth with an RBI single. The Tigers regained the lead courtesy of a Brandon Dixon home run surrendered by Tyler Bashlor, but Ramos took it right back with a two-run home run of his own in the bottom of the sixth. His second home run of the day gave the Mets a 4-3 lead.
Robert Gsellman, who had pitched a clean 7th inning, ran into trouble in the eighth. No worries, thought manager Mickey Callaway, who now has the luxury of using closer Edwin Diaz for a 4-out save. Only Diaz gave up an RBI single to score one of the inherited runners. Since a pinch hitter was needed, Diaz was only able to get one out and the Mets had to turn to the rest of the bullpen.
With the score tied 4-4, Wilmer Font entered the game and managed to hold the Tigers scoreless for two innings. But the Mets weak lineup couldn’t get anything going in the 9th or 10th inning. Daniel Zamora took over in the 11th and held the line with a scoreless inning of his own.
Both teams wasted perfect scoring opportunities in extras – the Mets in the 11th and the Tigers in the 12th – each stranding the bases loaded. Hector Santiago put a bunch of runners on base but managed to put up two zeros in relief, setting the stage for the Mets to win in the bottom of the 13th inning. Tomas Nido, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 11th inning as the last man on the bench, came through with a huge walk off home run to send the Mets bench running on to the field in celebration. A beautiful win by an unlikely bunch.
Nido may have gotten the game winning hit, but Ramos was the MVP. Not only did he go 3 for 4 with two home runs and a walk, but he picked off a runner leading off first in the 11th inning, eliminating the potential go-ahead run.
The Mets go for the series win tomorrow behind Zack Wheeler. Let’s go Mets!
Callaway once more showed why he’s a clown. With the Mets up 4-3 in the 8th inning, he won’t let Gsellman finish the frame with two outs and a man on second. He brings in Diaz to get a four out save. Ok, fine. I disagreed, but he didn’t ask me.
But Callaway – in his immense foresight – expecting things to come out as he wants them to, doesn’t double switch Diaz in, but rather just plugs him into the pitcher’s spot (5th) because he double switched Lagares in for Gomez the previous inning. So, now after losing the lead and the Mets get a couple of guys on base, he needs to pinch hit for Diaz, thus burning his best pitcher for just 1/3 of an inning and the game is still tied. What an idiot!
I can’t put him on Collins’ level, but he sure is embarrassing himself as a field general.
Diaz’ spot did not come up in the 8th. Callaway did his double switch for the 9th inning, as he opted not to have Diaz pitch the 9th in a non-save situation.
I didn’t agree with bringing in Diaz in the 8th but I thought it was the right move to take him out when he did. Makes it much more likely for Diaz to be available for today’s game.
I thought the Diaz move was correct. There was a man on third base and the Mets needed a strikeout . Diaz should have pitched the 9th also. He was your best pitcher at this point. Who says that the Mets will need him on Sunday? And why can’t he pitch on Sunday after only four outs on Saturday? Diaz blew the save and it was a tie game. In tie games, pitchers should be extended so that you don’t run out a pitchers.
Brian, here was Callaway’s explanation:
“He threw 13 pitches to get out of the 8th. He may need up to 38 to get out of the ninth as well, and that was too much.” So, he was protecting Diaz.
Let’s just say that he got out of the 8th unscathed, but got a baserunner or two in the ninth, what’s the difference? Is Diaz on a pitch limit, per se? Can you not have him start the ninth? Even the radio boys questioned that strategy and called it a mistake, and I was just floored while driving back to work. How do you allow that to happen? Oh sure, for the great Wilmer Font, he double switches Dominic Smith into Alonso’s spot, but for your best pitcher you don’t double switch and protect his ninth inning appearance? Was Callaway so arrogant that he just knew everything would work out?
Gut Reaction: give me a home Where the Buffalo Roam and the skies are not cloudy all day . “Buffalo Roaming” Ramos had fantastic day but in the end it was the scrubs winning the game. It can’t last……. or can it?
Was this a turning point for the catcher position? Will Ramos now hit like he was supposed to hit? Did Nido gain confidence that he is the backup catcher and can hit major league pitching? In 2016 Nido .320 batted at Port st. Lucie and was the batting champ. Time will answer these questions.
When Conforto gets activated who goes? Probably a pitcher and probably one that has options.
The Mets have to win this game today do you get to 500 because I don’t think they’re capable of having a winning road trip next week. Let’s go scrub Mets!
LOL, ‘Let’s go scrub Mets’… Someone is frustrated with his team, LOL…
Good one Metsense. I call them much worse sometimes, especially when they get swept in Miami. Clowns…