Jose Reyes played a serendipitously catalytic role in Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the New York Mets’ second win in a row.
Down by two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Reyes laid a bunt down the third base line. Alex Avila committed a costly mental gaffe, picking the ball up as it appeared to be rolling foul. Just like that, the Mets’ bats woke up.
Reyes reached base, Jose Bautista doubled, then Brandon Nimmo and Asdrubal Cabrera hit back-to-back jacks to put the Mets ahead and secure a much-needed series-split in the desert.
After the game, Reyes spoke to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News about his day and what it means to him.
“If I get on base, I know we bring the tying run to the plate… So I just tried to get on base,” Reyes said. “(Thank) God, I got a good bunt.”
Mets’ skipper Mickey Callaway added to those sentiments, also to Ackert.
“That was big,” he said. “Jose Reyes had a heck of a game. That was heads up and what we needed right there.”
Reyes, 35, did have a decent game (1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored) and has reached base safely in four of his last eight plate appearances (3-for-7, three runs scored). If he’s going to be here, which seems to be a lock for the time being, he might as well be contributing.
At this point in the New York Mets’ uneven (to put it gently) season, any-and-all help they can get out of this roster is of utmost importance in order to get things back on track. If Reyes can help the team reach that goal, it is what it is.
