Alvarez Clubs Walk-Off Homer in Mets 4-3 Win Over O’s

The Mets (65-60) entered Monday’s action set to begin a pivotal 10-game stretch against the formidable Orioles (73-53) and the National League Wild Card frontrunner Padres and Diamondbacks. This sequence of games began Monday with a matchup between David Peterson (7-1, 3.00 ERA) and Baltimore trade deadline acquisition Trevor Rogers (2-11, 4.92 ERA). While the Mets blew a 3-0 lead late, Francisco Alvarez emerged as the hero with a dramatic walk-off home run to give the Mets a 4-3 victory.

Alvarez hadn’t hit a home run since July 26 and he entered Monday with a .440 OPS since then. If there’s ever a hit to break an individual and a team out of an offensive slump, it’s that one.

At the beginning of the game, the Mets got out to a fast start against Rogers who entered play with a 7.53 ERA in three starts with the Orioles. After a Francisco Lindor strikeout to lead off the bottom of the first, Mark Vientos singled before J.D. Martinez sent a home run over the right-center field wall. It was Martinez’s first home run since August 3 and his 13th of the season to give the Mets the early lead.

The score remained 2-0 until the fourth inning, when Tyrone Taylor drove in Pete Alonso with a two-out base hit. Alonso had doubled to lead off the inning and eventually advanced to third on a Starling Marte bunt. Taylor’s hit put the Mets up 3-0 before the game headed into the fifth.

Baltimore responded right away, tagging Peterson for his first run of the game after a double, a wild pitch, and a ground out by Jackson Holliday scored Ramón Urías. It brought the O’s to within two runs, but Peterson did a solid job to limit the damage.

Peterson remained in the game for the seventh inning after finishing the sixth with 86 pitches. It was a frustrating inning for the lefty, who allowed a leadoff double and balked in a run with two outs. Then on the very next pitch following the balk, Urías sent a ball into the seats to tie the game. Peterson ended his outing with a strikeout, but he certainly wasn’t pleased to surrender the lead.

All in all, it was a successful outing for Peterson given the potency of the opposing lineup. He struck out eight and allowed two earned runs in seven innings, completing seven innings for the first time this season. His outing lowered his ERA to an even 3.00.

Peterson’s struggles in the seventh inning negated any good feeling about his performance, though, putting a potential win in the hands of the bullpen; that kind of game has ended in a loss more often than not for the Mets this year. José Buttó pitched an easy eighth inning before Edwin Díaz came on for the ninth inning and pitched a 1-2-3 inning.

While Buttó and Díaz did their part to shut down the Orioles in the late innings, the Mets bats had gone ice cold against Colin Selby and Keegan Akin. The two combined for 3 1/3 perfect innings with eight strikeouts before making way for the closer Seranthony Domínguez in the bottom of the ninth.

Domínguez struck out a pinch-hitting Jesse Winker before Alvarez delivered his walk-off hit on a 3-0 count. The ball was sent deep to left-center field and gave the Mets their biggest hit in a really long time. The Mets are now 65-60 and will look to keep this momentum rolling into Tuesday night.

Statistic of the Game: A Young Impact Bat

Francisco Alvarez’s walk-off home run makes him the third-youngest player in Mets history with a walk-off home run, behind Lee Mazzilli and Ron Swoboda. Alvarez has been streaky throughout his young career, but he continues to prove that the big moments are never too much for him.

Player of the Game

Francisco Alvarez is naturally the player of the game as he singlehandedly gave the Mets the win. Prior to his at-bat, the previous 11 Mets batters were 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts. Alvarez put the hammer down to give the Mets a feel-good win against one of the best teams in baseball in a moment that can hopefully propel this team during this upcoming stretch of games.

On Deck

The Mets and Orioles continue their series on Tuesday evening in a matchup between Jose Quintana (6-8. 4.26 ERA) and Dean Kremer (5-9. 4.48 ERA). Quintana is 2-5 with a 3.66 ERA in his career against Baltimore, while Kremer allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings in his lone career start against New York.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on SNY.

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