Did the Mets ever need that one?
Pete Alonso bailed out an unreliable bullpen with a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift New York to a 5-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.
The win snaps a heinous eight-game losing streak that saw the Mets (77-73) temporarily fall out of a playoff spot, though Sunday’s result temporarily gives them a one-game lead over the San Francisco Giants for the third and final National League Wild Card spot.
“Every game is important now,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Especially now in the middle of this losing streak, going into an off day… not going to lie, we needed that one.”
The Mets had built a 2-0 lead on the back of Nolan McLean, who continues to assert himself as the team’s unquestioned ace. The 24-year-old rookie right-hander went six shutout innings, allowing five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
He is the first Mets pitcher ever to begin his career with six straight starts of five-plus innings pitched and two or fewer runs allowed. McLean boasts a 1.19 ERA to start his MLB career.
But New York’s bullpen, as has become commonplace of late, squandered a 2-0 lead that was given to McLean behind an RBI groundout by Juan Soto in the fifth and a solo homer from Brandon Nimmo in the sixth.
Brooks Raley and Reed Garrett combined to give up two quick Texas runs. Joc Pederson’s two-RBI single scored Michael Helan and Josh Smith.
After Ryne Stanek navigated his way through the 10th without allowing the Rangers’ ghost runner to score, Soto was intentionally walked to lead off the bottom of the frame for Alonso.
The slugging first baseman jumped on a 1-1 hanging sinker, lifting it 390 feet over the right-center-field wall.
“Every walk-off homer is sick,” Alonso said. “It was awesome, a phenomenal feeling. A lot of meaning to that one for where we are as a team.”
For more on the Mets, visit AMNY.com
→ Continue reading at amNY
