Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Where would the New York Mets be without Eduardo Escobar right now? That is a very good question, given how hot at the plate the veteran has been since September, coupled with the fact that he has been the only real consistent bat for this team for a while now.
That was on show in the NL Wild Card Game 1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday, with the Mets bats once again disappearing during the biggest moment on the biggest stage. With ace Max Scherzer having been shelled for seven runs, the offense was unable to offer up any kind of resistance outside of another big effort from Escobar.
Since coming off the IL, the switch-hitter has been pretty much unstoppable, hitting .321/.385/.596 with a .982 OPS, eight home runs, four doubles, and 25 RBI with eight walks in September and October combined. His red-hot September kept the Mets afloat at times, and Escobar entered the postseason as the hottest bat in the lineup along with Jeff McNeil.
And, on a night where the offense failed to show in a big, big spot, Escobar at least did his part to try and provide a much-needed spark at Citi Field. After striking out swinging in the bottom of the second inning, the veteran stepped up to the plate in the fifth and finally gave the home crowd something to get excited about with a home run that traveled 402 ft. to center field.
Finally, the Mets get on the board via an Eduardo Escobar solo shot off Yu Darvish. Maybe it's the start of an epic comeback. Maybe it's a band-aid on a bullet wound.
I suppose we'll see.
Padres 7, Mets 1, bottom five. pic.twitter.com/TNb6C43cfU
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 8, 2022
It was a solo shot that electrified Citi Field and gave the Mets a glimmer of hope, and Escobar wasn’t done there as he hit a double in the seventh to try and spark a late fightback. Ultimately, the rest of the Mets’ bats failed to turn up the entire night, and Escobar’s solo efforts were left wasted on what was both a shocking and frustrating night in Queens.
However, the fact that Escobar is still on an absolute tear and is raking at an insane level at the plate should give the Mets some hope heading into what is now an elimination game on Saturday. The 33-year-old finished Friday night 2-for-3 with a home run, double, and a walk, and he’s been the hitter the Mets thought they were getting when they signed him to a two-year, $20 million contract back in the winter. Plus, hitting .259/.299/.519/.817 against lefties this year, Escobar should be able to continue his hot streak against Blake Snell on Saturday and act as the driving force for this offense yet again.
