Let’s face it, 2020 has been a rough year. While baseball’s significance pales in comparison to everything going on in real life, the truncated 2020 season has not begun well for the Mets. Maybe it’s a good time to reflect on a great Mets memory.
Let’s wind the clock back one year to August 9, 2019. The Mets had begun their phoenix-like rise from the ashes. They had won six in a row, and 14 of their last 17 coming into the Friday night game at Citi Field against Washington.
Their record stood at 59-56, but they were in fourth place, 8.5 games behind the division-leading Braves.
Marcus Stroman made the start for New York, his second in a Mets uniform after the trade with Toronto. The Nationals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by Juan Soto.
However, the Mets quickly battled back, tying the score in the bottom of the frame on a two-run home run by Pete Alonso and a solo shot by J.D. Davis.
Stroman was done after six innings, and Justin Wilson took over in the top of the seventh. To the surprise of no one, Met killer Anthony Rendon put Washington ahead 5-3 with a two-run home run.
Things looked bleak for the Mets when Luis Avilan uncorked a wild pitch in the ninth, allowing Trey Turner to score. The Nationals led 6-3, and the Mets were in trouble.
Hoping for late-inning magic, the Mets came to bat in the bottom of the ninth. Davis singled and Wilson Ramos doubled, both off Nationals’ closer Sean Doolittle.
The Mets had a fighting chance, with Todd Frazier stepping to the plate. Frazier delivered a game-tying home run, and it was so dramatic that Gary Cohen gave it the double “outta here!”
The game was now tied, but with the Mets’ bullpen, extra innings did not seem appealing. Juan Lagares singled. After two were out, Amed Rosario singled. Enter Michael Conforto, and cue suspense-building music.
Conforto lined a shot over Adam Eaton‘s head, Lagares scored, and everything broke loose.
On this night, a new “thing” began when Pete Alonso ripped off Conforto’s jersey. Conforto would repay the favor later in the season. You can relive the excitement in the video below.
The Mets would win again the next night, and continue their surge through the middle of August, before running into trouble against the Cubs and Braves to end the month.
Though the Mets fell short of the postseason last year, their 39-21 record in their last 60 games provided quite a few thrills.
Let’s hope they can right the 2020 ship quickly, and give us something to cheer about over the “final” 60 games of this season.
