Lindor’s Ninth Inning Homer Puts Mets into Postseason

Monday’s doubleheader was assuredly going to come with drama. But what unfolded in Game 1, a regular season game that held the weight of a postseason matchup, couldn’t have been written by the likes of Hemingway or Shakespeare.

There was pitching. There was offense. Over managing. And back-and-forth punches that haven’t been seen since the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhamad Ali and George Foreman.

For the Mets, their punches came in the eighth and ninth. After being shut out by Spencer Schwellenbach through seven innings, Tyrone Taylor led off with a double, knocked Schwellenbach out of the game, and the bottom of the order started a six-run rally.

Francisco Alvarez followed Taylor with a double to drive in the Mets’ first run of the game. Then two consecutive singles from Starling Marte and Francisco Lindor followed to bring the Mets to within a run.

Four consecutive hits and Joe Jiménez out of the game, the Mets then jumped Braves closer Raisel Iglesias. Jose Iglesias singled to tie the game, Mark Vientos drove in a run with a sac fly, and then Brandon Nimmo put the cherry on top with a two-run blast.

It was emphatic. Shocking even due to the Mets being lifeless for seven innings prior. But those six runs weren’t enough, and the Braves punched back in the bottom half.

Eli White, hitting as a defensive replacement, reached base via a hit-by-pitch. Then, after d’Arnaud singled off Phil Maton, Mendoza went to his own closer Edwin Díaz.

The closer’s first task was Jarred Kelenic, the man the closer was traded for. Pinch-hitting for Orlando Arcia, he smacked one over the bag, prompting Alonso to dive and make a stellar play. However, Díaz didn’t cover the bag and the Braves scored a run, extending the inning.

Michael Harris II followed with a walk, and then Ozzie Albies delivered the heartfelt blow. A bases-clearing double off the wall as a righty that scored three runs and gave the Braves a 7-6 lead.

A whole comeback, gone in a blink of an eye. The Mets, whose bats had woken up and handed the ball to their closer, fell behind once again.

The team could have rolled over, and taken their chances against the Braves B-team in Game 2. But the Mets, who have come far from their 0-5 start and shortcomings, had one more rally in them. Marte singled, Lindor came up, and the rest is history.

The shortstop homered to right field, putting the Mets back on top 8-7, and gave the squad a lead they held on to in the ninth.

Díaz then got the chance to redeem himself, retiring former Met d’Arnaud to solidify a 2024 postseason spot.

It’s quite remarkable what the Mets were able to accomplish Monday. They started 0-5, fell to 22-33, and were among the Marlins and Rockies in the standings in May.

But an astonishing run, capped by a 67-39 finish, puts them in a wild-card game against either the Brewers or Padres Tuesday.

One hero that won’t be talked about in this win is Tylor Megill. He struck out eight Braves across 5 2/3 innings and only had two blemishes the whole day. Both homers to Albies and Ramón Laureano that gave the Braves a 3-0 lead up until the eighth. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start that gave the Mets a chance.

On the other side, Schwellenbach again dominated the Mets. The righty, who has dominated the Mets in his young major league career, breezed through the Mets lineup for seven-plus innings and almost handed the Mets a dreadful loss.

It was a day filled with first-pitch ground outs, singles, and stranded runners. And entering the eighth, there was no reason to believe the offense would click against a pitcher that had only allowed one run in 20 innings facing them.

Player of the Game

Francisco Lindor put the Mets on his back Monday. He drove in the second run during the Mets rally in the eighth, then clubbed the go-ahead homer in the ninth to put the Mets on top.

On Deck

The Mets will take their chances against Chris Sale in Game 2 against the Braves. A starter hasn’t been announced for the Mets yet, but Luis Severino will get a day off. The game will be televised on SNY and ESPN, and broadcasted on WCBS 880.

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