The Mets are in the playoffs!!!
A six-run eighth inning gave the Mets the lead. But they gave up four runs in the bottom of the frame to trail by a run. It seemed like another brutal ending for the Mets. But Starling Marte hit a single up the middle and Francisco Lindor delivered a two-run homer to give the Mets the lead.
Edwin Diaz, who failed to protect the lead – and cover first base – in the eighth inning, preserved the lead in the ninth.
New Mets nemesis Spencer Schwellenbach held the Mets scoreless thru seven innings, while his teammates staked him to a three-run lead. Tyrone Taylor chased Schwellenbach with a double to start the eighth. Francisco Alvarez followed with an RBI double for the Mets’ first run.
Pinch-hitter Marte singled to put runners on the corners and Lindor singled to cut the deficit to one run. Jose Iglesias tied the score with a single and Mark Vientos tied it with a shallow sac fly. Lindor was on third and it just felt like if a fly ball reached the outfield – no matter how shallow – he was going to score.
And if that wasn’t dramatic enough, Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run homer to give the Mets a 6-3 lead.
Carlos Mendoza then made some questionable bullpen moves. He brought on Phil Maton to start the eighth inning, despite the fact that Maton pitched two innings on Saturday and another inning on Sunday. Maton hit the first batter he faced, got an out and then was pulled after he gave up a bloop hit.
Mendoza brought on Edwin Diaz for a five-out save, despite the fact that Diaz threw 20 pitches on Sunday. Diaz allowed two hits and a walk. One of the hits was to Jarred Kelenic, the man he was traded for back before the 2019 season. And it was made even worse because Pete Alonso made a great play to field the ball but Diaz didn’t cover first base.
Diaz came back for the ninth inning. In the chatter, we were looking for Jose Butto or Reed Garrett. But it was Ryne Stanek warming up, instead. Stanek never got in the game. And for that we were all grateful.
Now for Game 2. If the Mets win, they knock the Braves out of the playoffs and travel to San Diego to face the Padres. If they lose, it’s a return to Milwaukee.
Game Chatter for Game 2
https://substack.com/chat/1934025/post/ab8da034-33e3-407c-88ec-0001d821955b
Cannot wait to hear the reasoning for why neither Garrett or Butto was brought in with a 3 run lead in the 8th. But maybe it just doesn’t matter this season.. we seem to have what the professionals refer to as “it”
Congrats all. What a season. Let’s send the braves packing and go to san diego. And then shock the world.
Shohei who? Lindor for MVP!
tremendous game, probably the most exciting since the win in the 2015 NLDS over the Dodgers in game 5. Don’t know why Nimmo is starting the second game with Winker available.
The Mets have made me truly happy. This happens about once a decade, and I don’t have too many of those left. Thank you to the 2024 squad and especially Mr. Lindor, for removing the Braves monkey from our backs. Onward they go, wherever it may be. Cheers fellow 360ers.
Humdinger!
Yankee/Mets WS?