For the third straight game, the Mets rallied in the final inning of regulation. This time they won the game outright, edging the Phillies, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Citi Field with no extra innings needed.
Travis Blankenhorn started off the ninth inning with a hard shot that the Phillies first baseman was unable to handle, reaching on an error. Billy McKinney followed with a walk and Kevin Pillar reached on an infield single to load the bases. Luis Guillorme got his first RBI of the season with a bases loaded walk, which tied the game at 3-3. Francisco Lindor was a little too eager to be the hero, swinging at a couple of pitches outside the strike zone from a guy who had already given up two walks in the inning. That left it to Michael Conforto, who drilled a ball to center field that ended up being a walk off sacrifice fly.
Jacob deGrom started but struggled with his location, missing badly on several pitches. He gave up a run in the second inning to end his scoreless inning streak and another run in the sixth and left the game on the short side of things.
But Pillar delivered a pinch-hit homer to tie the game and get deGrom off the hook. It was 2-2 heading to the ninth inning when the Mets brought Edwin Diaz into the game. Diaz continued his streak of struggling in non-save situations, as he allowed a run and was staring a loss in the face. But the Mets came thru in the bottom of the frame and made Diaz the winning pitcher.
A returned favor for how the Mets fumbled their way into letting the go ahead (and thus the winning) run score yesterday in the eighth inning, the Phillies today opened the bottom of the ninth by allowing the tying run to reach base on a ball hit right to a player that was positioned perfectly and had a long hop to handle. Terrible. It seemed to let some air out of Neris’ balloon, the Phillies, and even their announcers. Then came two walks sandwiched around a great stop in the hole by the SS that kept the Phillies in front temporarily. How Girardi just kept Neris out there is something the Mets announcers were wondering but the Phillies guys seemed to have no problem with.
Guillorme is a smart, fundamental player. He is a good piece that can make the smart play and give you a solid at bat. Not a star, but a winning component. Lindor… looks good on defense most of the time, but I bet Cohen regrets that contract right now.
Wheeler tomorrow. Better bring the hitting shoes boys, y’all will need them.
Rojas keeps forgetting the rule…..do not bring Dias into a game that isn’t a save situation. So even though Lugo took only eight pitches to get through the eighth inning, he had to bring in Dias? Once again though, the Mets managed to pull the game out and make him (Rojas), look like a sage.
Nearly half way into the season. Looks like the pre-season predictions about the Met’s offense is going to all the low-ballers.
Still have to admit that even though the non-existence of an offense is frustrating, this is a team that one has to admire and root for.
Gut Reaction: until the Phillies improve there bullpen and defense I can’t imagine them winning the division. The second-place team, Washington, is closer to last place (4 games) than first place (5 games). The bench mob contributed in the victory once again, Peraza, Pillar and Guillorme. I wait patiently for the offense to awake but I am losing patience.
Hard to understand Diaz’ inability to pitch in non save situations but Footballhead you are so right. Can’t believe Lindor did not take pitches in that AB which is fundamental baseball. And does no one bunt for a hit anymore. There were chances in the last few games where a bunt towards first base could not be fielded and turned into an out. Seems a bloop and a blast is all they go for these days and teams are not interested in small ball ever. Thrilled we are where we are at the top of the NL Least and the return of our regulars should give us a big boost. We do need our hitting shoes on against Wheeler and let’s hope Stroman is okay. Onward and upward!
Let’s see… is Steve Cohen regretting Lindor’s contract…? Do bears poop in the woods?
Talk about buyer’s remorse! The 341 million that he spent for Lindor ain’t coming back, and the ten years will take a long time to wind down. He paid for one thing but will probably get something entirely different. He paid for solid hitting, great defense, and leadership by example. He is likely to get shaky hitting, steady but unspectacular defense, and “leader-like” personality.
The best we Mets fans can hope is that Lindor slowly improves, stays healthy, oversees a huge upgrade in team performance, and plays to league averages through six or seven years… and that’s the best we can hope for. He is not the superstar his contract suggests… it was a pre-season fleecing of a new owner trying to excite the fanbase.