Late-Game Heroics Lead To Big Series Win in Philly

Coming off a big win the previous night, the New York Mets were back at it again with more late-game heroics on Sunday evening in Philadelphia.

After receiving a big gut punch in the sixth inning via Didi Gregorius‘ three-run home run, which put the Phillies up 4-2, it initially looked like the same old song and dance for the Amazins. The Mets’ offense failed to tack on insurance runs with the bases loaded the inning before, and this time, their pitching staff couldn’t bail them out.

As ESPN pointed out, the Mets had a record of 1-29 since 2020 when trailing by two runs or more after eight innings.

But Sunday — like on Saturday — things went differently.

It wasn’t the same old Mets. It wasn’t the team that has frustrated the majority of their fan base after a disappointing first month to a season that holds so many expectations.

These are the “May Mets,” who are off to a 2-0 start since the calendar flipped forward. The “May Mets” are built off “grit,” as first baseman Pete Alonso would say. The “May Mets” have a new hitting approach coach in the form of the mysterious Donnie Stevenson, an unknown hit within the clubhouse.

“It was a great step forward for us. Gotta give credit to our approach coach Diesel Donnie,” said Alonso. “We were ripping heaters in the cage and we applied that in the game today.”

With Donnie at the helm, the Mets have scored 13 runs in their last two games combined, as they out-slugged the Phillies to steal a series win.

“We are a really tough team. Win or lose we aren’t going to make it easy. Talent doesn’t win games, hard work and grit do. It’s a really special group to be apart of. It’s fun to be out there with those guys,” said Alonso.

These “May Mets” have showed fight and resilience and fought their way back in consecutive nights. So when Gregorius delivered what in most cases would’ve been a knockout blow, the Mets kept their heads up and didn’t panic. And what happened as a result? They came to life in the eighth inning in the form of a six-run frame.

Not only that, but they received a spark from two unlikely suspects.

Down 4-2 at the start of the inning, Kevin Pillar, who was starting for the injured Brandon Nimmo, sent his third hit of the night into the stands in left field for his first homer as a Met, which cut the deficit to one run. Pillar has struggled at the plate this season, but he got the start with Nimmo out in favor of Albert Almora Jr. due to his career numbers against opposing starter Zach Eflin.

It paid off in a big way, as his successful night at the plate started the magic to lead the comeback charge. Fellow replacement starter Jonathan Villar, who started for the injured J.D. Davis at third base, also gave the Mets the spark they needed.

Following Pillar’s homer, Villar reached first on a single. Newcomer Jose Peraza had a tough at-bat and got a ball past Rhys Hoskins at first.

But what came next ultimately jettisoned the Mets to a huge inning. Villar, who advanced to third on the grounder past Pillar, made a heads up play on the base paths, breaking for home after Hoskins threw the ball into second. He caught Hoskins and the Phillies sleeping and made a savvy veteran move to steal a run and tie the game up at four.

After the game, Villar, who turned 30 years old Sunday, told reporters that his teammates called him crazy once he returned to the dugout. Regardless, Villar went on to admit that’s just his style of play and what he tries to bring night-in and night-out.

“That’s my game. I’m being aggressive to run the bases,” said Villar.

Manager Luis Rojas was also very pleased with what he saw from Pillar and Villar, who were more than formidable replacements.

“What Villar did was special,” said Rojas. “To play close attention and take home plate. Just to see the guy bring their good approach is something we are going to take to the next game and the next game.”

This set the tone for the Mets’ big inning as Michael Conforto drew a walk with the bases loaded against familiar foe Jose Alvarado, which forced in the go-ahead run.

Phillies manager Joe Girardi was forced to make his third pitching change of the inning, but it didn’t help the matter, as Alonso smashed a bases clearing double into the right-center gap to bust the game open.

The Mets now led 8-4, and despite the bullpen being a metal railing away from a crushing blown save, they were able to secure the victory on Sunday and win a big series on the road against a division rival.

In the very least, they now have some momentum riding into St. Louis to face a very tough Cardinals team.

While the Mets have yet to name their starting pitcher for Monday, their offense has seemingly found its groove behind mystery hitting approach coach Donnie Stevenson.

And the hope is that they can keep this May wave going as they venture out to Missouri.