Francisco Lindor saved what was otherwise a frustrating game with a clutch pinch-hit RBI double in the ninth to help give the Mets a 4-2 victory over the Rockies.
The Mets are currently 27th in the majors with runners in scoring position just ahead of the Rockies and they tried really, really hard for the 28th spot in this game. They went 2-for-15 with RISP and left 12 men on base. However, the two hits came off of the bat of their two stars who continue to produce despite the rest of the team’s struggles. Pete Alonso initially gave the team a 2-1 lead in the seventh with an RBI double that scored Starling Marte and Juan Soto. Then after Colorado tied it in the bottom of the inning, it was Lindor who came through. He sat for the second straight game with his broken pinkie toe but when called upon in the ninth he delivered. Alonso did help out some with a nifty slide to avoid the tag at home to give the team a 4-2 lead.
Juan Soto also had three hits in the game but it is becoming painfully obvious the team needs production from somewhere else other than their stars. The most glaring failure was in the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out. Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez, and Ronny Mauricio all struck out in non-competitive at bats. Yes, some of the calls against Baty were questionable, but the approach of taking close pitches in Coors Field of all places was probably not the correct call. That inning had the potential to loom large had the Mets not come back to win.
After Huascar Brazobán gave up a run in the seventh to allow the Rockies to tie it up, things were not looking great for Ryne Stanek and the Mets in the eighth. Now it was Colorado’s turn to load the bases with nobody out. The Mets got lucky when a runner was held at third when he could have scored on a double that got away from Soto. After the Rockies loaded the bases, Ryan McMahon lined a shot to Brett Baty who snagged it and then dove to tag the runner out for the double play. One day after his defense cost the team a game, his defense saved this one to keep the game tied. After the play Keith Hernandez noted “Someone up there likes the Mets.” It certainly felt that way when Stanek struck out Brenton Doyle to end the inning and Houdini his way out of trouble.
After the Mets got the lead Edwin Díaz easily nailed down the save to deliver the Mets a thrilling victory.
With all of the excitement of the later innings it is easy to overlook Kodai Senga who started his first game at Coors Field. He pitched pretty well outside of a solo home run by Mickey Moniak. He was especially impressive in the fifth after he gave up a lead off triple. He struck out the next batter and then Pete Alonso threw out the runner at home with the infield drawn in. The runner was originally called safe but replay review determined that he was, in fact, out. Senga threw a season-high 109 pitches in six innings. He struck out six and walked two and was in line for the win until Huascar Brazobán blew it in the seventh.
While the Mets did pull out the victory these two teams showed why they are 27th and 28th in the league in hitting with runners in scoring position. The Mets do have enough talent and star power to overcome that issue where the Rockies do not and that’s why these two teams are polar opposites in the standings.
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Box scores
Win Probability Added
Big Mets winner: Francisco Lindor +41.0% WPA
Big Mets loser: Brandon Nimmo -21.3% WPA
Mets pitchers: +37.2%
Mets hitters: +12.8%
Teh aw3s0mest play: Francsico Lindor RBI double in ninth
Teh sux0rest play: Thairo Estrada double in eighth
