With the 2021 Mets reeling after a 1-6 road trip, low-lighted by being swept in a series by the Phillies, who passed the Mets and moved into first place, this may be a good time to think about a positive memory from the not-too-distant past.
Let’s wind the clock back two years to August 9, 2019. The Mets had begun their phoenix-like rise from the ashes. They had won six in a row and 14 of their last 17 coming into the Friday night game at Citi Field against the Washington Nationals. Their record stood at 59-56, but they were in fourth place, 8.5 games behind the division-leading Braves.
Marcus Stroman made the start for New York, his second in a Mets uniform after the trade with Toronto. The Nationals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Juan Soto. However, the Mets quickly battled back, tying the score in the bottom of the frame on a two-run homer by Pete Alonso and a solo shot by J.D. Davis.
Stroman was done after six innings, and Justin Wilson took over in the top of the seventh. To the surprise of no one, Met killer Anthony Rendon put Washington ahead 5-3 with yet another two-run dinger. Things looked bleak for the Mets when Luis Avilan uncorked a wild pitch in the ninth, allowing Trea Turner to score. The Nationals led 6-3, and the Mets were in trouble.
Hoping for late-inning magic, New York came to bat in the bottom of the ninth. Davis singled and Wilson Ramos doubled, both off Nationals closer Sean Doolittle. The Mets had a fighting chance with Todd Frazier stepping to the plate. Frazier delivered a game-tying home run, and it was so dramatic that Gary Cohen gave it the double “outta here!”
The game was now tied, but with the Mets’ bullpen, extra innings did not seem appealing. Juan Lagares singled. After two outs were recorded, Amed Rosario singled. Enter Michael Conforto, and cue suspense-building music. Conforto lined a shot over Adam Eaton‘s head to score Lagares, and everything broke loose.
On this night, a new “thing” began when Pete Alonso ripped off Conforto’s jersey. Conforto would repay the favor later in the season. You can relive the excitement in the video below.
The Mets would win again the next night and continue their surge through the middle of August before running into trouble against the Cubs and Braves to end the month. Though they ultimately fell short of the postseason in 2019, their 39-21 record in the final 60 games provided quite a few thrills.
The 2021 team can use some similar magic. Ironically, after an off-day on August 9, they begin a three-game series against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. This year’s version of the Nationals will not win the World Series, as the 2019 team did, though.
The Mets need to take advantage of the rebuilding Nationals and get things going in the right direction. And we don’t care if players lose their shirts in the process.
