That’s a Wrap!

In a game in which the Mets honored one of the greatest players to ever play in Flushing, the Amazin’s played like a contending baseball team, concluding their 2013 season on a high note, besting the Brewers 3-2.

Eric Young Jr. led things off with a soft single to center for the first hit of the game. He then proceeded to swipe second, in doing so also grabbing the NL Stolen Base lead over Milwaukee’s Jean Segura. Young wasn’t done as he then stole third for good measure, and finally scored on a short fly ball from David Wright to give the Mets a 1-0 advantage. Young becomes the second Met to win the Stolen Base crown, the first being Jose Reyes who did so three times.

Jon Niese pitched well in his final start, going six innings, allowing two runs on six hits while walking two and punching out a pair. Niese actually got Sean Halton to ground into an inning-ending double play in the fourth, however first-base ump C.B. Bucknor called him safe, inciting an argument with Terry Collins. The blown call resulted in the go-ahead run to score, making it a 2-1 Milwaukee lead.

Come bottom of the eighth, the Mets rallied. Juan Lagares reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jeff Bianchi to get the ball rolling. Following that, Juan Centeno bunted himself on, allowing Lagares to score the tying run on yet another throwing error, this time by Jonathan Lucroy. The bunting game continued to be effective as Wilfredo Tovar reached base as well, sending Matt den Dekker–who pinch ran for Centeno–over to third. Eric Young Jr. came up and ripped a comebacker to the pitcher Brandon Kintzler, scoring den Dekker with the lead run and making it a one-run advantage.

Frank Francisco entered for the ninth and put together a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts including a 2-2 four-seamer that froze Aramis Ramirez to end the 2013 season with a victory, defeating Milwaukee 3-2.

Young and Lagares each threw out a runner at home plate in the fourth. In doing so, Lagares notched his 15th outfield assist, a franchise rookie record and the most for a first-year player since Delmon Young who had 16 with Tampa Bay in 2007.

Daniel Murphy extended his hitting streak to 11 games and stole his 22nd consecutive base, the second longest stretch in team history.

Today’s attendance was 41,891, the third sell-out this season, bringing the Mets grand total to 2,135,657 for 2013.

After the game, Terry Collins thanked reporters for their work this year and told them that next season we will see something “fun”. When asked if we would be seeing him next year, he laughed and quipped “you’ll find out Monday”.

True to his word, we will indeed find out his future Monday as the Mets plan to announce Collins’ two-year extension tomorrow at noon.

It has been a year of highs and a fair share of lows, but the 2013 season is now officially in the books in Flushing, and nothing but positives lie ahead.

We thank all of our readers and writers for an incredible 2013 and look forward to this winter in which we will continue to bring you the best of all your New York Mets coverage here on MetsMerized.

Until then, buckle up, because October baseball is about to begin!