Redemption Sunday

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The Mets ended their eight-game losing streak with a bang -  Pete Alonso hit a walk-off three-run dinger in the bottom of the tenth to give New York a 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.

The Mets had some opportunities early but didn’t come through. Against the lefty Jacob Latz, both Francisico Lindor and Alonso walked. With those two on base with one out, Brandon Nimmo popped up and Mark Vientos struck out. In the second, Lindor walked again to load the bases with two out, but Juan Soto grounded out to first. New York finally broke through in the fifth. Francisco Alvarez, who had a good series at the plate, smacked a leadoff double to right. Lindor made a productive out, moving Alvy to third. Then, Soto once again grounded out to first, but this time around Alvarez was able to score on it because he was running on contact. The Mets added a run in the bottom of the sixth. Facing Jacob Webb, Nimmo homered to center to make it 2-0. It amazingly was Nimmo’s first extra base hit in the month of September.

Meanwhile, Nolan McLean was his typical great self. The Rangers tried the strategy they pulled off successfully against Jonah Tong by taking the first 18 pitches of the game, daring the hurler to throw strikes. McLean did - he struck out the first two batters of the game looking. Nice try, Texas. When McLean had some traffic, he managed to snake his way out of trouble. In the fifth, he struck out the first two batters he faced, but Cody Freeman doubled and Josh Smith walked. McLean reared back and caught Wyatt Langford looking for a second time. In the sixth, with two on and one out, McLean coaxed Josh Jung to ground into a room service 6-4-3 double play. The youth formerly known as Cowboy Ohtani allowed five hits in six innings while walking two and striking out seven. His ERA is down to 1.16, the lowest ERA after six starts in Met history.

But he would get his first no-decision of his MLB career. Brooks Raley, appearing for a second day in a row for only the third time this season, permitted a leadoff single to pinch hitter Michael Heiman. He got the next two batters to fly out before hitting Josh Smith with a pitch. He exited the game lightly jawing at Smith for not trying to get his elbow out of the way. Reed Garrett entered and walked Langford before allowing Joc Pederson to lace a two-RBI single to right, tying the contest. Garrett this season has inherited 34 runners. 16 have scored. That’s a shade off of half. 

With the exception of a Cedric Mullins single, the Mets were set down in order innings seven through nine. The Rangers almost struck gold in the ninth against Edwin Díaz. Kyle Higashioka singled. Pinch runner Ezequeil Duran stole second, then went to third on a Cody Freeman sacrifice bunt. Fortunately, in a bit of karma happening, Josh Smith hit a little nothing “liner” to Lindor, who fired to Vientos at third to easily double up Duran to end the frame. 

Ryne Stanek had the tenth. The automatic runner reached third on a Langford fly out. Stanek walked Pederson, then struck out Adolis García and got Rowdy Tellez to pop it up to Vientos in foul territory. Stanek is good with stranding runners! It’s weird this year. 

The bottom half of the tenth went fast. Soto was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second. Off a 1-1 sinker, Alonso went opposite field, not unlike his homer in the playoffs last year against Milwaukee, and called game. 

Needless to say it was a much needed victory for the Mets. Hopefully it’s not a mere aberration. Hopefully it’s a portent of good things to come. 

***

The Metsies got a lot of help yesterday when both the Giants and Reds lost. The Diamondbacks are the latest problem to lose sleep over, because the tiebreaker between them and the Mets is yet to be determined. They split the six games they played against each other, so it goes to division records. The Mets are 23-22 against the NL East with the Nationals and Marlins left to play. The Diamondbacks are 23-20 against the NL West with the Giants, Padres, and Dodgers still on their schedule.

Sean Manaea is heading to the bullpen. More specifically, tomorrow’s game against the Padres will have Clay Holmes starting and Manaea coming in once Holmes finishes his evening of work. Piggybacking, they call it. It’s the right call - Holmes, but especially Manaea, aren’t their best once they’re in the 51-75 pitches area. In the first 25 pitches of Manaea’s appearances in 2025, opponents have a .670 OPS. Pitches 26-50: .608 OPS. Pitches 51-75: 1.108 OPS. 

Pete Alonso’s walk-off home run was the fifth of his career. That’s good for the most in Met franchise history.

Pete, after the game on his homer: “I felt like I was surfing on top of a dragon there. That was sick!” Game of Thrones spinoff when?

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets (73-71) defeated the Worcester Red Sox 7-2. RF José Azocar went 2 for 4 with a double, a run scored, and three RBI. RHP Justin Hagenman got the start, allowing two earned runs over four innings. The winning pitcher however was RHP Alex Carrillo. He tossed two scoreless and hitless innings, walking one and punching out two. 

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies (90-46) finished their regular season by picking up a franchise-record 90th win of the year. They edged the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) 1-0. RHP Will Watson allowed just two hits in five and two thirds innings, getting himself the win. Double Dub walked two and struck out nine. The Ponies’ next game is Game 1 of a best-of-3 divisional playoff against the Somerset Patriots (Yankees) on Tuesday. 

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones demolished the Hub City Spartanburgers (Rangers) in Game 1 of the Best-of-3 South Atlantic League Championship Series, winning by a score of 13-1. CF Yonathan Henriquez went 4 for 6 with a home run, two runs scored, six RBI, and a strikeout. SS Marco Vargas was 5 for 5 with three runs scored. RHP Noah Hall got the starting nod. In four and one third innings he allowed one earned run on three hits, walking three and striking out four. Game 2 is Tuesday. 

11 years ago tonight, Jacob deGrom tied a major league record by striking out eight consecutive batters to begin the game. Then, fellow pitcher Jarrod Cosart hit a single. And the Marlins eventually won 6-5. Son of a bitch. 

The Mets have the night off. Some of them will be firing up MLB.TV to watch the NL Wild Card aspirationals face off against each other. Others will watch the Monday Night Football games. Same deal with Met fans probably.