Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
From thumbs down to thumbs up.
The Mets came back from a four-run deficit in the ninth inning and won 6-5 after Baez narrowly avoided a tag on a play at the plate. Frustrations turned into jubilation as New York walks off the Marlins in their suspended game from April 11.
New York was down 5-1 entering the bottom of the ninth. The Marlins called in closer Anthony Bass who started by striking out Brandon Drury. Chance Sisco walked and Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run shot to bring the Mets within two runs. Francisco Lindor lined out and the Mets comeback attempt seemed to be over. But Dominic Smith and Pete Alonso rallied. Smith singled to third and Alonso doubled to left.
With two outs, Baez was at the plate.
Baez entered the game in the eighth inning for Jeff McNeil where he faced a round of boos from the crowd. In that at-bat, he was hit by a pitch and cheered by the Mets fans at Citi Field. Now with two outs, Baez had a chance to tie or win the game for the team and fan base that felt disrespected by his comments earlier this week.
Baez chopped a ball to short, Smith scored, and he beat the throw to first. The Mets were down one.
Michael Conforto stepped up. Alonso is on third. Conforto’s previous at-bat he popped up foul, slamming his bat and helmet in anger inside the dugout. He collected himself and found a hole on the left side of the infield. Alonso scored with ease. But, Jorge Alfaro botched the ball in left field. Baez turned on his jets and went from first to home. He missed the tag by inches to give the Mets the win.
This time any and all boos would be drowned out by the sound of cheers and applause.
Marcus Stroman was the technical starter, pitching a third on an inning back on the rainy Sunday in April. Taijuan Walker pitched the bulk completing four and two-thirds innings. Walker failed to retire batters early. He needed 100 pitches to get through his quick outing, allowing three runs and seven hits in the process. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out six.
Miami had multiple runners reach in four of five innings against Walker. The Marlins has two runners cross the plate in the second, taking advantage of Smith’s arm in left field. Jazz Chisholm doubled with Miguel Rojas and Bryan De La Cruz each singling to drive in the runs.
Chisholm doubled again in the fifth to drive in Miami’s third run of the game. It hopped over the fence in right-center to prevent Brian Anderson from scoring from first base. Rojas struck out to end the inning.
Mets fans would have something to cheer for in the bottom of the fifth. Jonathan Villar hit a solo shot to drive in New York’s first run of the game. It marked both his first and 16th home run of the year since the stats date back to April.
Heath Hembree allowed two runs in the sixth. Hembree walked two batters in the inning. They scored on a double by Jesus Aguilar to put Miami up 5-1. On the play McNeil dove and collided with Michael Conforto. McNeil remained in the game until Baez entered to pinch-hit two innings later.
Miguel Castro delivered two innings of relief. He pitched a clean eighth inning after a precarious seventh. Castro walked the bases loaded in his first inning of work. He escapes unscathed courtesy of a 6-4-3 double play. Jeurys Familia pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Mets and Marlins play their regularly scheduled game at 7:10 p.m. tonight. Trevor Williams will pitch for New York. It’s set for seven innings.
