Clutch Hitting Michael Conforto And Amed Rosario Key Mets Win

The Indians came to town, and there were many storylines. The Mets had their flurry of roster moves. Mickey Callaway was facing off against his mentor Terry Francona. Mostly, these were two teams fighting for a spot in their respective postseasons.

On this front, both teams would get terrific pitching performances, and when there is a pitcher’s duel like this, it’s the team who makes a mistake who loses. That mistake would come in the sixth.

Up until that point it was 2-2. Steven Matz was cruising following up his Braves start with an even better one. On the night, Jason Kipnis was the only Indian to get to him with a solo homer in the second and an RBI single in the fourth.

Overall, Matz pitched 6.1 innings allowing two runs (one earned thanks to a Todd Frazier error) on five hits and two walks while striking out seven. He would pick up the win because the Frazier error wasn’t the game changing error.

Like Matz, Shane Bieber was very good. He was very economical with his pitches, and for a while, it appeared he was going to go the distance. Really, his only mistake before the fateful sixth was his allowing a two run homer in the second to J.D. Davis.

In the sixth, Bieber has allowed those two runs. He began the inning retiring Amed Rosario, and he got Joe Panik to hit what should have been a harmless pop out to left. Instead, on the same day Luis Castillo was arrested in the Dominican Republic, Oscar Mercado dropped the ball.

For a moment, Bieber appeared to be getting out of the jam by striking out Pete Alonso. Then, Michael Conforto, who is maligned for not being clutch or not being considered a great player, hit a huge homer giving the Mets a 4-2 lead:

Unlike in Atlanta, Callaway let Matz start the seventh. Matz got himself into trouble allowing a one out single to Greg Allen and walking Franmil Reyes. Callaway went to Justin Wilson who came up huge striking out Francisco Lindor and Mercado. After that, the Mets blew the game wide open.

Frazier got the rally started with a single off Adam Cimber. After that, Juan Lagares, who has been taking much better at-bats of late, drew a walk. A failed sac bunt later led to Rosario with another huge hit with an RBI single expanding the Mets lead to 5-2.

Rosario just continues being a legitimately great player in the second half. He’s hitting, running the bases well, and playing good defense. Tonight, he was an impact player going 2-for-4 with a run, walk, and an RBI.

After the RBI single from Rosario, Panik would hit an RBI single, and Alonso hit an RBI double capping off a four run seventh. After not getting a sac bunt down earlier in the game, Davis would cap off his Uber ride with an RBI double in the eighth capping off the scoring and giving the Mets a 9-2 lead.

After seeing Callaway had no faith in Chris Mazza, Drew Gagnon, or Donnie Hart to wrap up blowouts, Callaway would trust Paul Sewald, and Sewald would pitch with higher velocity pitching a scoreless ninth preserving the 9-2 victory.

The Mets are once again five games over .500, and they’re once again poised to make a run. This is an important stretch, and the Mets are playing with a requisite sense of urgency. Things are getting interesting again.

Game Notes: Rajai Davis was selected from Syracuse, and Walker Lockett was sent down to add him to the roster. Brooks Pounders was designated for assignment to make room for Davis on the 40 man roster. Jed Lowrie began a rehab assignment as the DH for St. Lucie, and Brandon Nimmo is continuing his in Syracuse. Robert Gsellman was a partially torn lat.

3 Replies to “Clutch Hitting Michael Conforto And Amed Rosario Key Mets Win”

  1. David Klein says:
    August 20, 2019 at 11:17 pm

    Unsung heroes are Wilson and Mickey. Last time out Mickey pulled the plug on Matz too early this time it was at the just right time as I feel if Matz faces Lindor a fourth time I think Lindor hits a three run homer and who knows what happens the rest of the game. Wilson came in with a gameplan of going with cutters and dominated Lindor and Mercado. I know Wilson’s fip isn’t pretty but he’s pitched pretty well post injured list stint.

    Matz was fantastic and really should have given up just one run as he got what should have been a double play from Kipnis with Panik somehow not getting to the ball. Panik did make up for it later in the game with a big hit and I’m wondering why he was pulled late hope he didn’t get banged up. He gives the Mets professional at bats.

    What can you say about Conforto? He looked terrible in his first two at bats and adjusted and hit a seed to RF, he’s a monster and his great year is flying under the radar, he’s particularly been great in the second half.

    Davis is like Ted Williams at Citi Field and hope he stays healthy cause they need him big time.

    Another day another big game by Rosario who isn’t chasing as much and getting on base seemingly 2-3 times everyday, if he can hit at home he’s a big time player.

    All in all a great game and even an impressive inning from Sewald hope this is a start to s big homestand for the Mets.

    1. metsdaddy says:
      August 20, 2019 at 11:35 pm

      Its funny with Mickey. His decision today made that decision against the Braves look all the better.

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