From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Mets Lead Nationals 2-0
I - NYM 7; WAS 6
II - NYM 4; WAS 3
III - SUNDAY
GAME THREE
Washington Nationals
vs.
New York Mets
FROM
41 Seaver Way at Roosevelt Avenue
Flushing, Queens
That's one wild step for the Mets, and one giant leap for Metskind.
We pick up this story on July 12 as the Mets return from the all-star break with a loss against the dreadful Miami Marlins. They drop to 40-51 for the season (eleven games under .500) and a distant 14.5 games out of first place. After which they go on to win 12 of their next 16 games, and finish out July with a 14-8 record.
The Mets pick up in August where they leave off in July by winning their seventh game in a row. However on Aug 2 that streak is snapped by the Pirates at Pittsburgh. One sunrise later they embark on yet another extended win streak bringing us into this weekend's showdown against the second place Nationals at Citi Field. I listened to Friday's game on radio and Howie Rose says that night was the most raucous Citi Field has ever been since its opening (...or at least since the 2015 playoffs). And that due to the configuration of Citi Field versus Shea Stadium the roar of the crowd smacks him from different angles and directions.
Prior to this weekend's series against the Nationals, the Mets were busy posting a 19-6 (.760) record; the best second-half mark in all of baseball. There were two legitimate wins over the Minnesota Twins, which they follow up disappointingly by losing three of four against the San Francisco Giants. Otherwise the Mets compile 16 of 19 said victories against second division teams: Marlins, Padres, White Sox, and Pirates. While on the one hand you can only play teams on your schedule, on the other hand the four aforementioned teams combine for a .429 winning percentage. Moreover twelve of those victories are against bottom feeders of their respective divisions, with six against the Marlins, and another six against the Pirates. And so the real test lay ahead with these upcoming games against the Nationals, followed by a pair of series against the Braves, et al.
The question which begs to be asked: Are the Mets a paper tiger?
To that end they say actions speak louder than words ...
PANDEMONIUM AND MAYHEM APPEARING NIGHTLY
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Michael Conforto Drives in First Ever Game Winning RBI.
With the Mets trailing 0-3 after three and a half innings, Jeff McNeil works out a base on balls leading off the bottom of the fourth. Two outs later Pete Alonso launches a home run (38!) to deep left off Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg. Next in JD Davis makes it back-to-back home runs and a tie game at three. Mickey Callaway sends starter Marcus Stroman out for the seventh, whom walks lead-off batter Trea Turner. Callaway then summons Justin Wilson from the pen. After fanning Adam Eaton Wilson surrenders a two run home run to third baseman Anthony Rendon. Washington tacks on an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Trea Turner scores from third base on a Luis Avilan wild pitch. Washington dispatches reliever Sean Doolittle to the mound for the ninth. JD Davis greets Doolittle with a double to left, and Wilson Ramos follows with a single up the middle. Todd Frazier then hooks a home run just inside the left field foul tying the game at six. Nationals manager Dave Martinez sticks with Doolittle and the Mets continue inflicting damage. Newest arrival Joe Panik joins the fray singling to center. I guess you can say Juan Lagares blows the sacrifice by essentially bunting himself into a fielder's choice as Panik is erased at second. After Jeff McNeil flies harmlessly to right, Amed Rosario singles. In steps Michael Conforto who strikes a line drive over right fielder Adam Eaton's head one hop off the wall. Juan Lagares scores from second base and the Mets win. It's their seventh straight victory.
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER: You Can't Stop JD Davis, You Can Only Hope To Contain Him.
Noah Syndergaard toes the rubber in game two and is opposed by Patrick Corbin. Washington promptly jumps out to a 2-0 first inning lead on Juan Soto's two run home run. The Mets finally strike back in the fourth with back-to-back home runs from Wilson Ramos and JD Davis. Patrick Corbin lasts six innings while Syndergaard goes seven. Each walk off to a no decision. Noah is charged with two earned runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He winds up throwing 97 pitches with 66 going for strikes. Enter Seth Lugo. With two outs in the top of the eighth Lugo surrenders Juan Soto's second home run of the game. Up by a run manager Martinez calls upon the well traveled 42-year old Fernando Rodney to handle the bottom half of the frame. Pinch-hitting, Luis Guilllorme leads off with a game tying home run to left - it's hit first ever career home run. Next in Joe Panik reaches safely on an E-6, then advances on Jeff McNeil's hit to center. Amed Rosario advances the runners up one base. With two runners in scoring position the Nationals elect to intentionally walk Pete Alonso. JD Davis then lifts a sac-fly to left scoring Panik from third for a 4-3 Mets lead. Mickey Callaway sticks with Seth Lugo who does not disappoint, retiring Asdrubal Cabrera on a fly to right, then fanning the final two batters of the game. Lugo is credited with his fifth victory of the season against two losses with a 2.65 ERA. It's the Mets season high eighth straight victory, making them 15-1 (.937) in their last 16 games.
AMAZIN: When you pick up Sunday's papers the top four wild card contenders will read Nationals, Brewers, Cardinals, and Flushing's own New York Mets.
August 10, 2019, the Mets close business with an overall 61-56 record drawing them to within one-half game of a wild card with 45 games remaining in the regular season. By no means are they lucky.
Make no mistake about that. They've legitimately placed themselves into this position of contention, and these last two games in particular suddenly transform the rest of the season into a very serious matter.
Mets fans dating back to 1969 and 1973 understand full well about miracles and what the will to believe can achieve. Although the 1986 Mets dominated the regular season, even they required a few miracles along the way. And of course who can forget the run of 2015, one of the more endearing seasons in Mets history. If these 2019 Mets continue playing meaningful games in August they'll no doubt engage meaningful games in September.
Can they continue winning games with a 93% or a even a 76% rate of success?
Uh, no ..
Is it within their abilities down the stretch to win at least 64% of their games?
Not out of the question ...
The Mets have the advantage of 28 more home games and just 18 remaining on the road. They are 27-36 (.429) on the road and 33-20 (.630) at home - a stark difference to say the least. However, since July 2 the Mets are 10-5 (.667) on the road.
This is now a matter of seizing the moment.
