Mets4, Orioles 3 (Citi Field, Flushing, NY)
Mets Record: 65-60
Mets Streak: W1
Mets Last 10: 4-6
WP: Edwin Díaz (4-1)
LP: Seranthony Domínguez (3-3)
Seat On The Korner: Francisco Alvarez
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Today's "Seat On The Korner" goes to Francisco Alvarez. After a breakout 25-home run season last year, Alvarez has struggled at the plate this season, with just 5 homers and only two since June 26th. Coming into the game riding a 1-for-11 slump and going 0-for-2 on the night, Alvarez found himself at the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 3-3. After working the count to 3-0, he was given the green light, and he did not disappoint. Alvarez crushed a 106.5 mph rocket that traveled 421 feet, delivering a game-winning walk-off home run and sealing his place as the star of the night.
Need To Know:
The Orioles's and Mets commenced their first and only series of the season tonight at Citi Field.The Birds are visiting Citi Field for the first time since being swept in a two-game set from May 11-12, 2021.The Orioles swept the Mets when the teams last met for a three-game set from August 4-6, 2023 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore is 19-28 (.404) against New York-NL, the second-worst winning percentage against a single opponent (min. 25 G) in team history ahead of only the Marlins (.318, 14-30).The O's have won four of their last five and 10 of their last 16 against the Mets.The Birds are 3-8 at Citi Field, but lost their first five games at the ballpark from 2012-15.
The loss put the Mets' post-All Star Game record at 15-14 and ended their season series against the Marlins with a 7-6 record.
Earlier today, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor teamed up with New Balance to donate and distribute New Balance backpacks and Oakley sunglasses to local students from P.S. 54 in Richmond Hill, New York...The backpacks also contained brand-new school supplies to help prepare these students for the new school year.
Francisco Lindor 12-game batting streak came to an end.He was hitting .358 (19-53) over that span with nine runs, three doubles, one triple, two home runs, eight RBI, three walks, one steal.He did draw a walk and now has safely reached base in each of his last 18 games.
The Bird is the word for J.D. Martinez as he has a .332 batting average (130/391) with 130 hits, 36 homers, 97 RBIs and 78 runs scored in 103 games versus the Orioles in his career.
Mets got good news on injury front, other wild card contenders not so much.Brandon Nimmo is basically fine, the Braves’ Austin Riley out 6-8 weeks with a broken hand and the Diamondbacks Ketel Marte to the IL with a sprained ankle.
The Mets, fresh off picking off three Marlins in yesterday’s loss, attempted another pickoff in today's game after Ramón Urías hit a sharp one-out double to left fielder Tyrone Taylor. However, Peterson's throw on the pickoff attempt went awry, allowing Urías to advance to third. The error proved costly as Jackson Holliday grounded out to first baseman Pete Alonso, driving in Urías and narrowing the Mets’ lead to 3-1. Peterson managed to limit the damage, though, as Austin Slater grounded out to shortstop Francisco Lindor, ending the inning. Despite the setback, Peterson escaped the inning without further trouble. .
Anthony Santander leads MLB switch-hitters with 36 home runs, the most by an O's switch-hitter in team history.He broke a tie with Ken Singleton in 1979 following his homer last Tuesday against Washington...The last MLB switch-hitter with 36 homers in a season was Cleveland's José Ramírez in 2021 and the last with more than 36 was Pittsburgh's Josh Bell (37) in 2019...No switch- hitter has reached 40 home runs in a season since New York-NL's Carlos Beltrán hit 40 in 2006. Jose Butto got him to pop out in the eighth inning to keep the game tied at 3.
Trevor Rogers made his 10th career start and his second of the season against New York.Did not factor in the decision in his last start against the Mets on July 21 after allowing two runs (1 ER) on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings. He Is 2-3 with a 3.59 ERA (19 ER/47.2 IP) against the club in his career.
The Mets continue the homestand with two more games against the Orioles, sending another pair of lefties to the mound. Behind David Peterson start tonight, the Mets will follow with Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea, in that order.
Turning Point:
The turning point of the game was also the last play of the game as it came in the bottom of the ninth inning when Francisco Alvarez stepped to the plate with the game tied 3-3. After Seranthony Domínguez replaced Keegan Akin on the mound and struck out pinch-hitter Jesse Winker, Alvarez worked the count to 3-0. Given the green light on the next pitch, Alvarez made the most of it, launching Domínguez’s offering 421 feet to center field for a dramatic walk-off home run. The Mets clinched the victory in thrilling fashion, with Alvarez’s heroics sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Three Keys:
Rinse and RE-PETER-SON
In David Peterson's last start on August 14, he picked up the win, pitching brilliantly over 6.1 scoreless innings in the Mets' 9-1 victory against Oakland. However, despite allowing just four hits, three walks, and striking out five, Peterson was visibly upset when he was pulled from the game. Tonight Peterson was cruising through the sixth. Trouble began in the seventh as Ryan Mountcastle led off with a sharp double to right, followed by Eloy Jiménez grounding out to short, advancing Mountcastle to third. Peterson struck out Colton Cowser, seemingly on the verge of escaping unscathed, but a balk allowed Mountcastle to score. Things unraveled further when Ramón Urías hit a game-tying solo homer to center. Peterson recovered to strike out Jackson Holliday, but the damage had already been done, turning what was a strong outing into a frustrating one.
Taylor Tys One On.
The Mets came up in the fourth inning, a momentous frame marked by the presence of Kidcaster winner Kingston Nahm-Korn in the SNY booth. The inning began with the Mets leading 2-0. Pete Alonso got things started by lacing a sharp double to center off Orioles' Trevor Rogers. Starling Marte followed with a sacrifice bunt that moved Alonso to third, but Jose Iglesias struck out looking, leaving two outs. Francisco Alvarez worked a walk, bringing up Tyrone Taylor. During the at-bat, Taylor fouled one into the right-field corner where Anthony Santander misplayed it, allowing the at-bat to continue. Taylor capitalized by singling to left, driving in Alonso and extending the Mets' lead to 3-0. The inning ended when Harrison Bader lined out to left, but the damage was done, pushing the Mets further ahead with some insurance.
Pen rewrites the Ending
The Orioles' bullpen was nearly perfect tonight until one fateful pitch changed the story. Colin Selby, Keegan Akin, and Seranthony Domínguez combined for 3 2/3 innings of flawless relief, striking out nine of the eleven outs recorded, allowing no hits, no walks, and keeping the bases completely clear. That was until Francisco Alvarez stepped to the plate in the ninth inning and, with one out, walked it off, shattering their perfect performance with a single swing.
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