It has been a crazy week for the New York Mets, to say the least. From trailing in the ninth inning of Game 3 against Milwaukee with their backs against the wall, to a home run that made MLB history. From coming close to being shut out by a former Mets pitcher, to scoring five runs in the eighth inning to lead to a Game 1 win in Philadelphia. Mark Vientos did his best to create another magical day on Sunday before Nick Castellanos made other plans. So much happened in Mets land in a matter of a few days.
Photo by Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Mets fans across the globe were tuned into the ninth inning at the edge of their seats in Milwaukee on Thursday, many of whom thought they were watching the last at-bat Alonso will ever take wearing the Mets orange and blue across his chest. Brewers’ two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams would deliver his best pitch, his changeup, making matters even more difficult. And then the unthinkable happened. Alonso took that changeup deep to right field to give the Mets the lead before securing the win in the bottom half of the inning.
Perhaps it was fate or destiny, or the powers of OMG and Grimace combined. Williams had only allowed one home run across 21 2/3 innings during his regular season. Alonso is the first player in MLB history to hit a go-ahead home run while trailing in the 9th inning or later of a winner-take-all postseason game. It was also the first opposite-field home run Williams ever allowed. He debuted in 2019, just like Alonso.
His big three-run homer wasn’t the only important at-bat attributed to Alonso this week. He followed up that moment with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday. His sac fly improved the Mets’ lead to 3-1 and played a factor in their 5-run inning. In Game 2 on Sunday, he hit a solo shot again to right field to put the Mets on top 4-0, which, at the time, looked like a big enough lead to hold onto the win.
David Peterson. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Peterson has been used in a different role thus far in the postseason. After making 21 appearances in the regular season, all as a starter, he was thrust into the bullpen during the short series in Milwaukee. He earned the save in the Mets’ Game 3 come-from-behind victory after Edwin Díaz had pitched earlier to record the five outs leading up to the big moment.
I think most expected Peterson to get the ball to start Game 1 in Philadelphia before the shocking announcement that Kodai Senga was returning from the Injured List to make the start. Carlos Mendoza used Senga for two innings before turning to Peterson in long relief. He turned in a gritty performance for his squad, throwing three scoreless innings despite allowing three walks and just one hit. It wasn’t the best stuff he has displayed, but he sure did his part to help the Mets get the win.
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Words can’t possibly describe what Vientos has done for this team throughout the regular season and in the playoffs. For a guy who didn’t crack the Opening Day roster, he’s easily become a top-three hitter for the Mets, possibly even the top spot on any given day.
In Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, he gave the Mets the lead in the fifth inning, lining a single with two outs and the bases loaded. His two-RBI single put the Mets on top 6-4, and they never looked back. When the Mets offense struggled to get on the board on Saturday in Philadelphia, it was Vientos again who stepped up with an RBI single to tie the game in the eighth inning, the first of five Mets runs in the inning. If that wasn’t enough, Vientos hit a pair of two-run home runs, including the game-tying shot in the ninth inning of Sunday’s loss to the Phillies.
He seemingly steps up in every big situation dealt to him. Back in April, he smacked a walk-off homer against the St. Louis Cardinals, then, in early September, hit a walk-off homer against Cincinnati to keep the Mets in the thick of the Wild Card race. He’s quickly becoming one of the best young bats in Major League Baseball.
The Mets will host Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday evening with an earlier than usual start time at 5:08pm (Thanks MLB). Make sure to zoom out of the office and get to your favorite spot to catch the first pitch, and if you’ll be at Citi Field, do your part to make that place rowdy!
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