Johnny Monell was the unlikely hero on Monday night, as he broke a scoreless tie with a clutch two-run double in the ninth to give the Mets the lead en route to a 3-0 win over the Giants.
Currently the team’s backup catcher, Monell fell behind 0-2, but he stayed in the at-bat and worked the count full, before driving a 3-2 slider to right field to score Michael Cuddyer and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
“I kind of knew he was going to throw a first-pitch slider,” Monell said afterward. “He didn’t really want to walk the bases loaded with Duda on deck. I’m just fortunate enough to get a good pitch to hit and put it in the corner to drive in two.”
After an atrocious 1-for-17 start to the season in his first stint with the Mets, Monell has fared much better since being recalled on June 23, batting .286 with a.348 on-base percentage, two walks, four runs, and two RBIs in 23 plate appearances.
Manager Terry Collins believes that Monell, a former Giant, was motivated to beat his one-time teammates.
“You face a team that you played with at one time and you’re not with them anymore and you always want to show them you made a mistake,” Collins said. “There’s always a little adrenaline.”
A Bronx native, the 29-year old Monell will continue to see more playing time with Travis d’Arnaud still on the mend.
His left-handed bat could prove useful off the bench, although he needs to improve an awful 1-for-11 pinch hitting slump if he expects to remain with the team.
For now, the Mets will take anything they can get, and at least for one night, Monell provided a big hit at the perfect time.
