The Mets fell behind by three runs but rallied back for a 4-3 win over the Tigers Sunday afternoon in Citi Field. The victory gave the Mets the win in the rubber game of the series, the first time in six tries the Mets accomplished that feat this year.
The Tigers’ lineup did not feature either Miguel Cabrera or Josh Harrison. But what figured to be an easy game turned out to be anything but that. Detroit got a wind-blown homer to right field in the first inning and added two more scratch runs in the third to jump out to a 3-0 lead against Zack Wheeler.
But the Mets put up a four spot in the fourth inning. Todd Frazier came up with runners on the corners and the Tigers had an extreme shift on against him. Frazier responded with a hard bunt to the right side that went to the shallow outfield. It drove in the run and allowed Wilson Ramos to go first to third. That type of baserunning by Ramos was noteworthy but it didn’t eventually matter because Adeiny Hechavarria clubbed a three run homer to right, where the ball seemed to be carrying especially well today.
Wheeler settled down to retire 13 batters in a row. He pitched into the eighth inning, going 7.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB and 8 Ks. Familia came on with two runners on in the eighth and looked better than he had all year, getting two strikeouts to the only two batters he faced to end the threat.
Edwin Diaz, pulled from yesterday’s game so he’d be available today, came on in the ninth inning and had a tough time but came up with the Save. He had two runners in scoring position but got a strikeout to end the game on his 31st pitch of the inning.
After the debacle in Miami, the Mets have now won six of their last seven games. But the schedule gets much tougher in the week ahead, as they travel to Los Angeles to take on the first-place Dodgers for a four-game series.
After Castellanos got to him again Wheeler was absolute dominant with some help from a fantastic play by Gomez. Wheeler’s fastball was explosive and his curve and splitter was nasty and his slider was real good too. Wheeler just completely wrecked Cabrera late in his outing.
Familia came up huge in the eighth throwing vintage 2015-2016 like sinkers and got two huge outs hopefully that’s a turning point but we’ll see.
Frazier has had a dreadful season, but give him credit the push bunt was brilliant and set up the big inning. The Mets also got some luck with Jones not catching Smith’s flyball and while Hech has been bad with the bat as always, but had two huge homers this homestand.
Whatever the issue was at citi field that led to all the offensive brown outs at home seems to have been figured out as the Mets are averaging over 5 runs per game.
Wonderful to see Conforto back and he was unsurprisingly rusty but it’s huge getting him back.
Diaz looked terrible today and when the wind pushed a pop out foul I was sure the Mets would blow it but thanks to the ump calling a ball a strike the Mets held on.
Another big game for Dom who has taken to his role terrifically.
You know considering all the terrible hitters that kill the Mets and all the sequencing issues you gotta wonder how competent the Mets scouting department.
All in all a great homestand that for now saved the season. Oh yeah great game by Wheeler at the plate, who looks better than Lagares at the plate as Lagares looks beyond helpless vs righties and simply should sit vs all righties.
Today was a unique day as I will pay a compliment to Todd Frazier for the first time in a long time. That hard push bunt is the type of heads-up hitting Frazier has never shown. Ever since he won the Homerun Derby in his home park, he has never been the same. He became a “swing from his heels” type of hitter that couldn’t adjust. It was this approach that made me say he won’t have a job next year, as this approach isn’t tolerated any longer. However, if he is able to discover the right side of the field, he will be a quality role player on this team or another team because his defense is very good.
This brings me to the news that Pete Alonso wants to be in the Homerun Derby this year. Not happy to hear that; neither were the radio boys that made a point of saying how David Wright regretted entering the contest in 2012 because it messed up his swing quite a bit and he had a terrible second half that year.
Today was a nice win, no matter how difficult it was. Put it in the books and let’s go harass those Dodgers, who have kicked the Mets ass up one side and down the other the passed few years at Chavez Ravine, all while thoroughly enjoying themselves and yucking it up.
If a Mets batter even gets grazed by a pitch, someone on the Dodgers better be wearing a fastball in the same spot.
The Mets did what they needed to do against the Nats and Tigers. It’s unfortunate that the three against the lowly Fish went the wrong way as they could easily have won 8 of 9 and found themselves over .500. They are getting production from all over the lineup and we lost nothing, save perhaps for a long bomb from Alonso, by giving Smith the start at first. Got to love the way the offense claws back and the bombs hit from all over the lineup. Hoping they bring the bats to the west coast. As usual Brian, love reading your on target analysis. Thanks.
Gut Reaction: I’m glad they won. Hechavarria delivered again. History says, they shouldn’t rely on him to be the offensive star in Every Game.
Frazier’s bunt RBI single was inspiring. Maybe they will take notes of this and make it a part of the offense in every game. It’s surer than an AH 3 run hr.
Wheeler + Familia + Diaz = Victory ( it isn’t rocket science)
Diaz Mios, thank God we have Edwin.
Can they win 4 games on this road trip and return home above 500? LGM