Mark Vientos blasted a walk-off, two-run homer to send the Citi Field faithful into a frenzy as the Mets won their eighth consecutive game by a score of 6-4 in 10 innings over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. It was New York’s 10th walk-off victory of the year.
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Vientos, who also homered in the first inning, knew it was gone upon first contact, flipping the bat away as it sailed over the left-field wall. He flung his helmet in the air after he rounded third and was greeted by teammates at home, emerging from the scene doused with water and missing his shirt. The celebration was on.
The win allowed the Mets (77-64) to keep pace with the Atlanta Braves (77-64), who defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, for the final Wild Card spot.
Jose Buttó (7-3) tossed a scoreless 10th after Edwin Díaz struck out the side in a 1-2-3 ninth as the Mets survived despite giving up a pair of two-run leads.
The Reds (68-74) tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh when TJ Friedl hit a two-run homer off Sean Manaea, who struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings. Manaea gave up four runs on three hits and two walks. It was the most runs he’d given up in a game since July 19.
With the game knotted 2-2 and a runner on second for the Mets in the sixth inning, managerial maneuvering took center stage.
With left-hander Brandon Williamson on the mound and dealing, Carlos Mendoza sent the right-handed hitting Jose Iglesias up to pinch hit for lefty Jesse Winker. Reds manager David Bell responded by bringing in righty Buck Farmer.
So, after all the moves, it was Iglesias vs. Farmer instead of Winker vs. Williamson. Iglesias made his skipper look smart, singling to left to score Pete Alonso and give the Mets a 3-2 lead. Iglesias later took second on the throw home and scored when J.D. Martinez followed with an RBI single of his own.
The rally started with two outs and nobody on when Alonso doubled to right on a ball that Jake Fraley had caught in the heel of his glove, but lost after he hit the ground.
Vientos’ first homer of the game was a two-run shot in the first off opener Fernando Cruz. The score remained 2-0 until Elly De La Cruz tied it with a two-run blast of his own off Manaea in the fourth. For both Vientos and De La Cruz, it was home run No. 23. Vientos would add his 24th later. De La Cruz’s homer was the first the Mets had allowed in seven games.
Jeff McNeil was hit by a pitch on the right wrist in the fifth inning. He stayed in the game to play defense, but Harrison Bader pinch hit for him in his next at-bat. The Mets said he had a right wrist contusion and will undergo imaging tests on Saturday.
The Díaz brothers, Edwin for the Mets and the younger Alexis for the Reds, each pitched a scoreless ninth inning. It was the first time the brothers had pitched in the same MLB game.
Lindor was 1-for-5 with a run. He extended his hitting streak to 16 games and his on-base streak to 34, which tied Pete Alonso for the longest single season on-base streak in franchise history. The longest on-base streak for a Met overall is 47, set by John Olerud in 1998-99.
Hmm. Vientos was 3-for-5 with his two home runs, four RBIs and a bat flip. He raised his slash line to .289/.342/.563/.905.
Wouldn’t nine be fine?! Jose Quintana (7-9, 4.27 ERA) gets the start at 4:10 p.m ET at Citi Field on Saturday. Quintana gave up one run in 5 2/3 innings when he faced the Reds on April 5. Cincinnati’s starter is TBD. The game will air on SNY.
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