On a night that the Mets inducted their new Hall of Fame class, the club came up with an inspirational comeback, tying the game in the ninth inning and then winning it in the 10th on a Brandon Drury hit, emerging with a 5-4 win over the Reds Saturday night in Citi Field.
The Mets fell behind 4-1 but got back in the game thanks to a 2-run homer by Javier Baez in the sixth inning. The Reds had a chance to expand their lead with runners on the corners and nobody out in the eighth inning but were unable to score. In the inning, Joey Votto just missed homering in his eighth straight game, as he hit one that just missed going out by inches. He only got a single on the play. And he was picked off first by Aaron Loup for the final out of the inning.
In the ninth, the Mets got a leadoff single from Jeff McNeil, which extended his hitting streak to 17 games. Pinch runner Luis Guillorme advanced to second on a wild pitch. But both Baez and James McCann struck out on pitches outside the strike zone. Dominic Smith came to the plate and the Reds brought in lefty Sean Doolittle. Smith, who’s performing much better this year against LHP, delivered a two-strike single to tie the game and send it into extra innings.
Edwin Diaz came on in the 10th and soon there were runners on the corners with nobody out. But Diaz struck out the next two hitters and got the third out with a liner to the outfield. Diaz’ scoreless inning capped another terrific night for the bullpen, which threw five shutout frames.
Drury went 2-4 on the night and at the end of the broadcast, Gary Cohen said he was 11-15 since being recalled from Syracuse. Known for his ability to deliver power, Drury went to the opposite field for his game-winning single.
We got bailed out by Votto’s stupid base running mistake in the 8th. Of course, if Villar doesn’t get picked off 2nd, Baez’s homer would have tied it.
McNeil drew a walk in the 9th – his hit streak ends at 16.
Great come back victory though and the Philllies lost to the PIrates so we’re now 4 up on the Braves and 4.5 on the Phils.
Thanks for the correction on McNeil. I posted that he walked in the Game Chatter – not sure how I switched that to a hit in my mind. Wishful thinking, I guess.
I had to leave the game for an appointment, and Lugo was facing first and third with nobody out, and I figured that as that. The Reds would score and the Mets would fall short. I was not able to find the base-running blunder by Votto on video.
Actually, I like the Baez trade better than I would have liked Bryant. Baez has a flair for the dramatic and his defense may actually strengthen the team. He looked far from thrilled to be in a Mets uniform… but his very quick bat came through. All we are asking is that he do that once a game and we’ll be happy!