The Mets rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning, the game-winner coming on a hard-hit RBI by J.D. Davis, to earn a 4-3 win over the Indians. It was the fourth-straight win for the Mets and put them six games over .500, their high-water mark for the season.
Amed Rosario led off the 10th with a double and was sacrificed to third. The Indians walked Pete Alonso and then Michael Conforto hit what looked like a double play ball to end the game. But the pitcher didn’t cover first and the tying run scored. And if that wasn’t strange enough, Wilson Ramos kept the inning alive with an infield single, reaching base on a poor throw by reliever Brad Hand. On the telecast they noted it was Hand’s fifth recent blown save. He ended up taking the loss when Davis battled back from an 0-2 count to get his first career walk-off hit.
Things didn’t look good early for the Mets, as they fell behind and then lost their starting pitcher, Marcus Stroman, to a hamstring strain. But the bullpen got the job done, keeping the Mets in the game until the offense finally arrived.
Somewhat curiously, the first reliever up was Jeurys Familia, who pitched a scoreless fifth inning and certainly seems ready for some higher-leverage spots. Brad Brach gave up a run in the sixth. But Justin Wilson and Seth Lugo gave three scoreless frames, with Lugo going two innings, to send the game to extra innings.
Luis Avilan got two outs in the 10th inning before Carlos Santana hit one over the great wall of Flushing. Still, the bullpen gave up just two runs in six innings, a far cry from earlier in the season when it seemed like they gave up two runs in every inning.
It was the Mets’ second consecutive extra-inning win, after they dropped three games in extras in four days to the Giants early in the second half. The victory upped the Mets’ record to 5-8 in games that go past nine innings.
I left the room for moments though listening, with Wilson Ramos getting on base with an infield hit.
The baseball gods are with us, so let’s enjoy the ride. It’s going to be fun watching 5 more weeks of baseball with an extra note that the best hitter on the team is still nursing a hamstring injury and the offense hasn’t missed a beat.
Gut reaction: JD’s post game interview was almost as good as his walk off hit! This team believes in themselves.
The bullpen is a lock with Wilson and Lugo. The others are all similar in their performances. A good manager will know how to use those “others” by knowing their strengths and tendencies, not by perceived rules.
This was a very exciting win.
Tremendous win last night, very entertaining. I was at the game, the crowd was into it despite silent Met bats, and most stayed for the walk off finish. That final at bat by JD was classic, and it is what makes baseball great. Not sure if Indians turn that DP even if pitcher covered, but it would have been very close. The game of inches has been goin Mets’ way, but the competition keeps winning too so every game is of utmost importance. Very exciting.