Mets Win With Rat, Not Raccoon
For some reason, the New York Mets couldn’t get to Patrick Corbin even though he’s been terrible since the Washington Nationals won the World Series. Fortunately, he could only go five, and that would be the Nationals undoing.
Entering that top of the sixth, the Nationals were up 2-0. Carlos Carrasco was pitching well, but he allowed an RBI double to Maikel Franco (shocking) and a solo homer to Riley Adams.
The Nationals brought in Carl Edwards, Jr., and the Mets went to work. They loaded the bases with one out, and Jeff McNeil did what he does best – he got it in play.
Tie ballgame courtesy of @JeffMcNeil805! 🐿🐿 pic.twitter.com/s147nb0J4J
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 11, 2022
It was hit hard, but it’s a play Josh Bell needs to make. In any event, Bell pulled a Dorn, and McNeil had a game tying two RBI double.
The Mets took the lead on a James McCann sacrifice fly scoring Eduardo Escobar. It was part of a big game for McCann. In addition to going 1-for-3 with the sacrifice fly and his usual terrific work behind the plate, he also threw out Drew Strange-Gordon attempting to steal second.
.@McCannon33 on the money! #LGM pic.twitter.com/AFraSpxUGp
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 11, 2022
It was part of a tremendous defensive inning for the Mets. In addition to the caught stealing, Francisco Lindor robbed Franco of a hit.
That helped Drew Smith get through the seventh. He’d need a little help in the eighth.
Smith departed with one on and Juan Soto coming to the plate. Soto is having a down year (for him), and it didn’t get better as he popped out on the first pitch he saw from Joely Rodriguez.
Buck Showalter would have an interesting ninth. After Mark Canha reached on an error, he didn’t pinch run Travis Jankowski even though he’d bring in Jankowski later in the inning to pinch run, and he’d be the defensive replacement for Canha.
Canha wouldn’t score from second on a Lindor single.
He was also intending to bring in Dominic Smith for defense. However, he didn’t use him to pinch hit for J.D. Davis. Davis was overpowered by low 90s fastballs up in the zone by Erasmo Ramirez.
Davis did fly out. Fortunately, with the infield and outfield in, the Mets took advantage of the back pedaling Soto to not only score a run, but also to see all base runners advance.
The lead was 4-2, but it did seem the Mets left a big inning on the table with some of Showalter’s decisions playing a factor there.
Fortunately, two runs were more than enough for Edwin Diaz, who has been phenomenal all season. He slammed the door shut for his seventh save of the season.
While the win was fun in and of itself, there was some levity during that sixth inning rally when a Rat ran onto the field.
"Oh my goodness, you dirty rat!" – Keith
Gary could only laugh 😂🐭 pic.twitter.com/aoxOfZTl2D
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 11, 2022
While Keith Hernandez was doing his best James Cagney, Mets fans were remembering the Ratcoon controversy. That’s the way it is when things are going well.
What was once controversy is now fun. Right now, everything is fun for a Mets team on pace for 110 wins.
Lol Davis is way better against righties than Dom and had four balls that were hit over 100 mph tonight and the OF wasn’t back you clown.
I specifically said outfield was in, which just further proves all my points