At this point of the season every game feels like a must-win. Especially for a team who finds themselves trailing in a playoff race. The current series against the Marlins is a big one for the Metropolitans and boy did they start it off on the right foot.
The Mets gambled Monday night, skipping Jacob deGrom and starting Rafael Montero, it worked out. Montero had an interesting night on the mound while pitching through five innings of shutout work. He walked six batters, was squeezed throughout the night by the home plate umpire but persevered.
“I walked six batters, but thank god I was able to get out of the jams,” Montero said. (ESPN)
The Marlins had Jose Fernandez on the mound, one of the best pitchers in the game. On paper it was a total mismatch. The Mets just needed to out last him, and they did. Terry Collins knew as long as his team could hang in there and keep pace with the Marlins star pitcher, they had a chance.
“Now I’m not taking anything away from Rafael Montero,” Collins said. “But you’re facing one of the best pitchers in the game, who has really pitched well against us. We were short tonight a little bit. You’re just saying, ‘Jeez, if we can just hang in there.’ And we hung in there.”
In the eighth inning, Addison Reed allowed back-to-back Marlins doubles that put them on top late. These resilient Mets and Jose Reyes would not have any of that though, quickly leading off the bottom of the inning with a double. He would tag up to third on a fly out and then quickly take home on a wild pitch to tie the game. A man many said would no longer be a viable player has ignited a new spirit into this team.
“I never doubted my talent and what I could do on the field,” Reyes said. “A lot of people, before the Mets signed me, said, ‘This guy’s done.’ I heard that. I just worked as hard as a I can and continue to contribute to this ball club. That’s why I’m here to make things happen.” (NY Post)
The stage was all set for Yoenis Cespedes in the bottom of the 10th inning. The crowd roaring with their star slugger in front of their eyes ready to yet again put the team on his back for a run at a playoff berth. Cespedes connected when the team needed it most, powering the Mets to a thrilling 2-1 victory.
“Every time I see Cespedes at home plate, I feel like he’s going to hit a homer,” Reyes said. “That’s the way that I feel in the dugout. I’m sure the other guys feel the same way.”
“They had the opportunity to see him get hot last year. And, for me, seeing him this year, it’s unbelievable what he can do on the baseball field. Basically he can do whatever he wants to when he wants to. It’s good to see. We’re going to need him.”
The walk-off was the second of Cespedes’ career. The home run was his 27th of the season and his seventh go-ahead homer this year. Twelve of his 27 home runs this year have given the Mets the lead or tied the game. Cespedes finished the game 3-for-5 and is batting .388 (14-for-36) with two doubles, five homers and nine RBI in nine games since being activated off the Disabled List.
The Mets now stand tied with the Marlins, just 2.5 games back from the second Wild Card spot. They have put themselves in a great position in this four-game set as they look to pass the fish in the standings tonight.
