The New York Mets made it to the World Series last season, eventually losing to the Kansas City Royals. Due to the success the team had last year, they entered the season as one of the favorites to make it back to the World Series.
However, things haven’t gone as smoothly as the team had hoped, and they currently sit nine games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East. With almost two months left in the regular season, the Mets still have a chance to win the division, but they will need to go on an extended winning streak to make it happen.
On Sunday, the Mets got a big win over the Detroit Tigers, which helped the team avoid getting swept in the three-game series.
Neil Walker, whose wife is expected to deliver their first child this week, had a four and a half hour drive ahead of him so he could spend Monday, which is his off-day, with his wife. Walker made sure the Mets departed Detroit in a timely manner by hitting a two run homer in the ninth inning to help the Mets get the win.
Michael Conforto, who has been struggling since he was called up from the Mets Triple A Las Vegas team, also came up big for the Mets as a pinch hitter. Conforto hit a homer to give Mets the lead in the seventh inning, then hit a single in the ninth inning.
After the game, Walker was the first man out of the door, and according to his teammates, he was going straight home to his wife.
Even with their struggles this season, the Mets are still in the thick of the playoff hunt because they are only two games behind the Miami Marlins for the final Wildcard spot in the NL.
The Mets also seem to be in luck because their next two series are against the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are two of the worst teams in the National League this season. If the Mets can win both series, it will give them the opportunity to take the second Wildcard spot from the Marlins.
When asked about Michael Conforto’s struggles, Mets manager Terry Collins said the team has to figure out how to get Conforto going. Collins added that Conforto was a big part of the club and he would love for him to perform the way he did last year after getting called up to the majors.
In another strange twist, the Mets won the game on Sunday despite not having a single at-bat with runners in scoring position, mostly due to pitcher Anibal Sanchez, who struck out 10 batters in eight innings, allowing four hits.
The Tigers had a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning, but Justin Upton blew it for the team by taking off toward third base before noticing that J. D. Martinez, who was running ahead of him, stopped at third base.
Upton’s mistake ended up getting Martinez tagged out, which ended the inning. After the game, Collins said his team caught a break in that situation.
