Mazeika Magic Continues, Mets Walk-off O’s for Sixth Straight Win

The division-leading New York Mets (17-3) pulled off a two-run ninth inning rally to defeat the Baltimore Orioles (16-20) by a margin of 3-2 on Tuesday evening at Citi Field.  The triumph marks the club’s sixth straight win, which is their longest streak since an eight-game stretch in August of 2019.

An unlikely hero in Patrick Mazeika hit into a fielder’s choice to drive in the winning run for New York on the evening. Yet to notch his first major league hit, the rookie now has two walk-off fielder’s choice and three runs batted in – all in pinch hitting roles.

The victory was earned behind a strong Mets pitching performance, as New York’s staff combined to allow two runs on seven hits, while striking out eight Oriole batters in total. Jeurys Familia earned the win in relief with a scoreless ninth to set up the Mets comeback in the home half of the inning.

Marcus Stroman had a quality outing on Tuesday evening, which helped shrink his ERA to 2.01 through seven starts this season. He allowed one run on four hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts.

Baltimore had runners on the corners with nobody out in the top of the first after Cedric Mullins notched a leadoff single and Austin Hays reached on a fielding error by Jonathan Villar at third. With two men on, Stroman was able to work his way out of the jam unscathed, despite the error.

Jeff McNeil had a leadoff single in the first and picked up his second hit in the third. The second baseman pulled up lame trying to stretch his third inning single into a double, and left the game with what the Mets called body cramps.

The Mets were finally able to get something going against John Means in the bottom of the fifth, as both Pete Alonso and Kevin Pillar lined two out hits. However, that threat was quickly ended as Villar popped out to finish the frame.

And after the early trouble, Stroman quickly settled in. The right-hander was cruising through his night, having allowed just one base hit and a walk through the fifth inning. However, he was receiving the Jacob deGrom treatment from his offense, and was knotted in scoreless ballgame.

Again, New York had a pair of runners on in the sixth after back-to-back leadoff singles by Jose Peraza and Francisco Lindor – marking a five-game hitting streak for the shortstop after a slow start to the season.

Michael Conforto then beat out a double-play ball to keep runners on the corners with one out. However, Alonso popped out to first and Pillar flew out to shallow center to waste another golden opportunity.

In the seventh, Stroman got into a bit of trouble after surrendering a pair of leadoff singles, and a sacrifice bunt, moving two into scoring position. After intentionally walking Pedro Severino with one out to set up the double play, Luis Rojas pulled Stroman for Aaron Loup.

Entering into a one-out, bases loaded jam, Loup surrendered a run (charged to Stroman) as Pat Valaika hit a long sacrifice fly to get Baltimore on the board first, 1-0. The reliever was able to rebound and limit the damage with a strikeout and groundout to end the frame.

New York responded with a leadoff walk drawn by Jonathan Villar, however James McCann grounded into a double-play, and another groundout sent the club down quickly in the seventh.

Trevor May then took the mound for the eighth. The frame began with a scare as Albert Almora Jr. went down after sprinting head-first into the center-field fence in pursuit of a fly ball. He was removed from the game and Dom Smith replaced him in the order, playing left field as Pillar moved to center.

Almora did what he could, but the O’s still ended up with a runner on third as the call of a triple stood. May locked-in and recorded a pair of strikeouts, but with two outs Freddy Galvis laid a soft bunt down the third base line for a run scoring single to make it 2-0, Baltimore.

The Mets finally scratched across a run in the bottom of the eighth. Walks drawn by Tomas Nido and Lindor set up first and second for Conforto, who knocked a one-out RBI single to cut Baltimore’s lead in half, 2-1.

Familia then came on and pitched the final frame. He continued his strong start to the season, as he held the Orioles scoreless despite allowing a one-out walk and a base hit. He added a strikeout in stranding the pair.

Leading off the bottom of the ninth against Cesar Valdez, Kevin Pillar knocked a game-tying solo homerun… that was quickly overturned by the home plate ump and ruled a foul ball.

Not losing hope, the veteran answered with a single and Villar followed with a base-knock of his own in a bid to rally with no outs. Dom Smith then came in clutch with the game-tying RBI single that put the winning run on third, as Villar advanced from second on the throw home.

With one out, Patrick Mazeika worked the count to 2-2, and then rolled a slow roller towards first. With the infield drawn in, Mancini’s play was to home, but a great jump enabled Villar to slide in safely and score the winning run, sending the Citi Field faithful home happy.

The Mets look to sweep the series against the Orioles as they close out their homestand at Citi Field on Wednesday afternoon. Taijuan Walker (2-1, 2.38 ERA) will face off against Matt Harvey (3-2, 3.60 ERA) who is making his first start against the Mets since his departure from the club in 2018.

In his last outing against St. Louis, Walker brought home the win after seven innings of one run ball. He allowed just one hit and struck out eight in the triumph. Harvey took the loss against Boston in his last start. He allowed a trifecta of four runs on four hits over four innings pitched with a walk and three Ks.

First pitch will be at 12:10 PM on May 12. The game will be televised by SNY and MLB Network, and broadcasted on WCBS 880-AM.