Mets Win For Keith, Walk Off Marlins 5-4 in Bizarre Fashion

It’s Keith Hernandez day! On Saturday afternoon, the Mets (53-32) retired his number 17 before taking on the Marlins (40-43) in game three of their four-game series. The game went into extra innings, and the Mets were able to celebrate a 5-4 walk-off win thanks to a timely base hit by Tomas Nido and shaky defense on the part of the Marlins.

Carlos Carrasco got the start for the Mets and was in and out of trouble for most of the game. In the first inning he gave up a double and a walk to start the game, before getting Jesus Aguilar to hit into what should have been a run-scoring double play. Instead, catcher’s interference was called on James McCann, and the bases were loaded with no one out. Luckily, Carrasco struck out Jesus Sanchez and got Avisail Garcia to ground into a double play, ending the inning without giving up a run.

After a one-two-three second inning with two strikeouts and an easy third inning, Carrasco found himself in trouble again in the fourth. He gave up a leadoff double to Aguilar, who then advanced to third on a groundout off the bat of Sanchez. This time, Carrasco got out of trouble by striking out Garcia and getting Brian Anderson to groundout.

The Mets were held hitless through the first three innings of the game, and their only base runner was Luis Guillorme who was walked in the bottom of the third. They got their first hit in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a solo home run by Pete Alonso, his 23^rd of the year. Alonso’s homer also gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Carrasco pitched well in the fifth inning but was back in trouble in the sixth. After striking out the first batter, he gave up two hits sandwiched around a walk to load the bases with one out. Anderson then singled to center, tying the game. The Marlins should have taken the lead, but Sanchez slid poorly into home and Guillorme’s relay throw nabbed him at the plate. McCann was injured on the tag and left the game.

The play was also the end of Carrasco’s night, as Seth Lugo came on in relief with men on first and second and two outs. Lugo uncorked a very wild pitch, and the Marlins took the lead 2-1, but then struck out Bryan De La Cruz to end the inning.

The Marlins lead did not last long. In the bottom of the sixth, Lindor banged a homer off the left field foul pole. Lindor’s two-out, two-run homer gave the Mets a 3-2 lead.

Lugo stayed in to start the seventh and got the first two outs before giving up a single up the middle to John Berti. Adam Ottavino was then called on to try to get the final out of the inning. Berti stole second, but Ottavino got Garrett Cooper to ground into a comebacker to end the inning.

After the Mets went down quietly in the bottom of the seventh, Ottavino stayed on to start the top of the eighth. He gave up a leadoff homer to Aguilar, and the game was tied 3-3. Ottavino was able to retire the next three batters, thanks in part to a great catch in right by Ender Inciarte. Inciarte came into the game in the bottom of the fourth, pinch hitting for the injured Starling Marte.

The Mets made a little noise in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to a Guillorme leadoff double. But they failed to score, and so Edwin Diaz came on in the top of the ninth trying to keep the game tied. Diaz retired the side in order with two strikeouts, and it was the Mets’ offense’s turn to try and win it. Unfortunately, Marlins’ reliever Antony Bass struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth, and the game went to extra innings.

Colin Holderman pitched the top of the 10th for the Mets. Lindor tried to throw out Billy Hamilton, the Marlins’ free runner, at third on an infield hit off the bat of Berti. Eduardo Escobar was unable to cover third in time, and Lindor’s throw got away, allowing Hamilton to score. Holderman was able to get out of the inning, with some help from Tomas Nido picking off Berti at second, but the Marlins had the lead, 4-3.

With Mark Canha on second as the free runner for the Mets, Escobar and Guillorme both struck out looking. It was down to Nido, who hit a spinning ground ball past the glove of Anderson at third for a double scoring Canha.

Brandon Nimmo then hit a comebacker to Marlins’ closer Tanner Scott. It should have been an easy out, but Scott threw the ball away, and Nido scored, giving the Mets the walk-off 5-4 win. The Mets are now 7-0 in extra inning games this season.

Player of the Game: Tomas Nido

Nido’s pickoff of Berti in the top of the 10th inning played a huge part in helping the Mets limit the Marlins to one run. It kept the Mets in the game and allowed them to come back in the bottom of the 10th. Nido’s at-bat in the bottom of the 10th was an even bigger part of the victory. His double past the third baseman’s glove was well-placed to tie the game.

On Deck

The Mets and Marlins will play game four of their series Sunday at 1:40 p.m. The game will be on PIX 11. Taijuan Walker will start for the Mets, while Sandy Alcantara will be on the mound for the Marlins.