The New York Mets (72-68) had a 5-4 victory in comeback style tonight on Friday night against the Philadelphia Phillies (72-68) on a walk-off walk by rookie phenomenon Pete Alonso.
Pitching
Steven Matz was the opener tonight for the first game of a three-game campaign against the Phillies. Matz’s start was respectable pitching 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs, struck out four, and walked three. He was taken out at 109 pitches in the top of the sixth inning, being responsible for the runners at first and third with two outs. Matz got the no decision exiting with the game tied at two.
Luis Avilan was called in from the bullpen to face pinch-hitter Phil Gosselin, his assignment was to face just the one batter which resulted in a walk to Gosselin on a 3-2 change up to load the bases with two outs.
Brad Brach was the next candidate to come out of the New York Mets bullpen to try an get a king sized out with the game tied at 2-2, facing a bases loaded situation, with two outs. Jean Segura was the next batter, and he flew out to right fielder Michael Conforto for the third out of the inning.
Mickey Callaway decided to leave in Brach to pitch the seventh inning, he gave up a double to outfielder to Corey Dickerson but served up two huge strikeouts to the next two batters Rhys Hoskins and Scott Kingery. This was the first time in nine days Brach has pitched.
Justin Wilson got the nod for the eighth inning, he has excelled in his relief role since coming off his second stint off the injured list with a sparkling 1.97 ERA. The southpaw had an dominant scoreless inning striking out two batters. He has allowed a run in his last 11 appearances.
Edwin Diaz got the call in from the bullpen to try and secure the save tonight in the top of the ninth. Seth Lugo was unavailable unfortunately because of his workload the last couple outings.
It was deja vu for Diaz and Mets fans. He continued his struggles giving up another heartbreaking blown save to catcher J.T. Realmuto on a tying two-run homer into the left field seats to even the game at 4-4.
Offense
Todd Frazier led off the bottom of the third inning with a single just over the head of the shortstop Jean Segura. Todd’s single was a milestone collecting his 1000th hit of his major league career.
Matz was the next batter, he successfully executed the sacrifice bunt moving Frazier into scoring position to give McNeil a RBI opportunity. Jeff McNeil got the offense rolling with a line drive single up the middle into center-field to deliver his 65th RBI of the year, Frazier came around to score giving the Mets an early 1-0 lead.
During the bottom of the fourth inning, Michael Conforto provided a blast into the upper deck of the Coca Cola Corner for a career-high 29th home run of the year giving a Mets a two-run cushion against Philadelphia.
Frazier led off the inning in the bottom of the eighth inning against relief pitcher Blake Parker, Todd got on base with a walk on four pitches. Sam Haggerty was put in to pinch run for Frazier. Luis Guillorme was the pinch hitter for Justin Wilson, and moved Haggerty into scoring position on a unusual sacrifice bunt that managed to go over the head of first baseman Rhys Hoskins.
Pete Alonso faced reliever Phillies reliever Hector Neris, muscling a base hit past the third baseman to drive in Haggerty to give the Mets a 3-2 lead, McNeil also went first to third. Wilson Ramos followed with an RBI single that drove in an insurance run.
The bottom of the ninth was fulfilled with a lot of excitement, Juan Lagares sparked the offense with a two-out rally going up the middle with a base hit to start it out.
J.D Davis was the next man in line to hit, pinch-hitting for Edwin Diaz. He kept the train rolling with another base hit to his impressive resume. Now with the Mets having runners at first and second, McNeil got the opportunity to drive in the winning run. But instead Jeff got hit by the pitch, which loaded up the bases for Pete Alonso.
Alonso would walk to force in the winning run and give the Mets their 72nd win of the season.
On Deck
The Mets will look to get the series win against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Marcus Stroman (7-12, 3.28 ERA) will look to build on his last quality start he had with the Mets last Sunday against Philadelphia. Drew Smyly (3-6, 6.65 ERA) will be on the other side facing the Metropolitans. The lefty has a 6.23 ERA in his last six starts.
