Mets Keep Coming Back, Win Game in 10th
It was a never-say-die game for the Mets Wednesday night, as they kept coming back from behind to finally win the final game in Pittsburgh in 10 innings.
Neil Walker, his homecoming love fest continuing, gave his old team a run in the first. John Jaso led off the first with a grounder that went through Walker’s legs. Jaso would score on a double and a single brought home a second run.
The Mets tied the score in the fourth when Asdrubal Cabrera doubled with two outs and Ty Kelly hit his first career home run.
But Syndergaard gave a run back in the bottom of the inning when Jaso doubled home a run to make it 3-2.
Syndergaard took matters into his own hands in the fifth. He led off with a double, went to third on a sacrifice (which was actually a hit attempt by Alejandro De Aza) and scored on a Michael Conforto sacrifice fly to tie the score again.
Noah Syndergaard went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits. He struck out five and walked two. He was fine, but not his dominant self.
Meantime, highly regarded prospect Jameson Tailon also went six innings for the Pirates in a solid debut.
Jim Henderson came on for the seventh. He pitched Tuesday, and back-to-back appearances have not been his friend. He walked Andrew McCutchen to lead off the inning, and then Gregory Polanco doubled off the wall in right. McCutchen was content to stop at third, but Walker dropped the relay throw and McCutchen trotted home to break the tie. Polanco also went to third and scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3. Walker had committed just one error coming into the series; he made three in the three games.
But the Mets would not go away. Following a De Aza walk to lead off the eighth, Jared Hughes came in to pitch. Conforto greeted him with a two-run shot to tie the game yet again at five. Cespedes followed with a single and Walker walked. They advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. James Loney grounded out to a drawn-in infield for the first out. Cabrera was walked to load the bases so they could face Kelly. He popped out to left, too shallow to score the run from third. Curtis Granderson grounded out to short to end the inning and keep the game tied.
Addison Reed pitched two scoreless innings to keep the Pirates off the board.
The Mets could not score, either, so it was on to extra innings. Cespedes and Walker led off the 10th with back-to-back singles. Loney sacrificed to move the runners up. Once again, Cabrera was intentionally walked to face Kelly with the bases loaded. However, Wilmer Flores pinch hit for him. He fisted one into center to score Cespedes and give the Mets a 6-5 lead. With the bases still loaded, Matt Reynolds pinch hit. He flied out to shallow center and Walker could not score. Kevin Plawecki was next; he grounded out to end the inning.
Jeurys Familia came in to protect the one-run lead. He walked leadoff batter Francisco Cervelli. Then he walked Matt Joyce. Familia got Sean Rodriguez to ground into a huge double play. With Cervelli on third with two outs, Familia faced pinch hitter Chris Stewart and walked him. Then it was David Freese; he struck him out to end the game. Despite a shaky outing, Familia picked up his 19th save, tied for most in baseball.
Mets win 6-5. Now it’s on to Milwaukee.