The Mets scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a two-run lead and then held on, despite the Phillies loading the bases, thanks to a rarely-seen double play, and emerged with a 6-5 win Sunday afternoon. The victory gave the Mets a split of the two-game London Series.
Reed Garrett, who already logged 1.1 IP in the game, came out to start the bottom of the ninth. He got one out but had two batters on base when he was relieved by Drew Smith. Next came a single to load the bases and then a walk to make it a one-run game. The next batter hit a squib in front of the plate that Luis Torrens grabbed. He went back to touch home and then fired to first for a 2U3 GDP that ended the game.
The Mets entered their half of the ninth trailing by a run. Tyrone Taylor had a leadoff walk and Jeff McNeil followed with a single that sent Taylor to third. Mark Vientos tied it up with an infield single. Torrens walked to load the bases and the Mets scored the go-ahead run thanks to a HBP and an insurance run via a wild pitch.
Jose Quintana started for the Mets and failed to get out of the fourth inning. He now has a 5.29 ERA for the season. In games played outside of Citi Field, Quintana has allowed 25 ER in 33.2 IP for a 6.68 ERA. Before this year started, my hope was to never see the Mets use someone for 20 starts and a 6.80 ERA, like last season with Carlos Carrasco. Quintana’s not that bad but there’s not a reason under the sun for him to get another start with Jose Butto and Christian Scott both twiddling their thumbs at Syracuse.
The Mets had seven hits and five walks in this game. Jeff McNeil, starting after being held out the previous four games, was the only player with two hits, although neither of them were exactly belted. J.D. Martinez had a two-run single that tied the game, 3-3, after Quintana put them in a three-run hole.
After an off day Monday, the Mets start a six-game homestand against the Marlins on Tuesday.
A series split is a wonderful and often unheard phrase these last several weeks. We came away with a game when the dark storm clouds were closing in. It moved us forward one game on the long climb to .500. Agree that Butto and or Scott needs to get a call before Quintana pitches his next game against the Padres. Hoping Megill and Petersen continue their strong pitching starting Tuesday. Gotta love Torrens play. Have to think Nido’s days are numbered.
Everyone played in this series, except for Nido. That bothered me and I tried to understand why… Then, I saw Alonso on his stomach after he scores telling the trail runner, Nimmo, to get down, and I remembered something. The other day in Washington, Vientos scored standing up on a base hit and barely beat the throw. The on-deck batter was way back by the stands being an observer. It reminded me of when Jose Reyes (in his last year) was the on-deck batter and stood in the on deck circle jumping up and down as Jay Bruce scored standing up and barely beat the throw. I did the Gut Reaction that night and laid into Reyes for that. Who was the on deck batter when Vientos was scoring the other day? Tomas Nido. I’m wondering if that had anything to do with it, and I can’t blame Mendoza. He needs to get their attention somehow.
Gut Reaction: Torrens make his mark on this game. He picked off a man on first, single and scored in the 6th, walked in the 9th, and had the presence of the situation and flawless execution of the game winning double play to end the game. That head up play let the Mets escape for the victory.
And it’s clear Torrens is a better catcher. Heads up play solid hitting. Att he very least he stays because he has more trade value than Nido, who has almost none,
The Mets don’t have a worthy backup catcher. We don’t know what Senger is and Parada is struggling. Torrents is under control through 2026. Why push that away? And for what?