Mets 2,Nationals 1 (Citi Field, Flushing, N.Y.)
Mets Record: 82-68
Mets Streak: W1
Mets Last 10: 6-4
WP: Reed Garret (8-5) LP: Jacob Barnes (8-3)
Seat On The Korner: Starling Marte
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 Starling Marte, who came through in the clutch to deliver the Mets’ 11th walk-off victory of the season. Entering the game as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th, Marte may not have driven in a run in that initial opportunity, but he more than made up for it in the 10th inning. After Ghost-runner Harrison Bader advanced to third on Francisco Alvarez’s flyout to right, Marte laced a sharp line drive single to left, scoring Bader and securing the 2-1 victory over the Nationals—marking Marte’s 11th career walk-off single and Washington’s 11th walk-off loss of the season. With MVP candidate Francisco Lindor sidelined, the Mets will need veterans like Marte to step up in high-pressure moments, just as he did tonight. His ability to deliver in crunch time could be critical as the team navigates the final stretch of the season.
Need To Know
Prior to tonight's game, Francisco Lindor met with the media to discuss the results of his MRI on his back.He expressed optimism, stating, "I'm great. I still have a little bit of pain, but we had good news." Lindor indicated that while his recovery timeline could range from "three to five days or two to three," it will depend on how his back responds to treatment. He praised the trainers for their plan, adding that his return will ultimately be up to both his health and manager Carlos Mendoza.
To honor the memory of Ed Kranepool, the Mets held a moment of silence before today's contest...In addition, Ethan Kranepool, grandson of Ed, threw out the first pitch to his father and son of Ed, Keith Kranepool.
The New York Mets installed a commemorative purple seat in Section 302, Row 6, Seat 12, to honor Grimace ahead of Fan Appreciation Weekend from Sept. 20-22. This gesture celebrates Grimace’s connection with fans following his first pitch on June 12, which sparked a seven-game win streak. Mets SVP of Partnerships Brenden Mallette highlighted that the seat will allow fans to enjoy the Grimace experience at Citi Field.
Since September 1, the Mets starting rotation has gone 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA (20 ER/88.2 IP) with 22 walks and 81 strikeouts...Their 2.03 ERA is the second- best in the majors behind only Cincinnati (1.98 ERA)...Their 87 punchouts are tied for the most in that span and are the most in the NL.
The Mets have gone 31-12 against the Nationals at Citi Field since the start of the 2019 season.
Jake Irvin is making his 31st start of the season teammates Patrick Corbin, and MacKenzie Gore have all made 30 starts this season...Only one other club (Seattle) has three pitchers with at least 30 starts this season.
Turning Point
The turning point of the game came in the bottom of the 8th inning when the Mets' offense, which had been held in check for most of the night, finally came to life. With Sean Manaea's brilliant outing in jeopardy as the Mets trailed 1-0 with only six outs remaining, Tyrone Taylor ignited the rally with a leadoff double to left. After Francisco Alvarez's groundout advanced Taylor to third, Starling Marte entered as a pinch-hitter but was retired on a groundout, leaving the Mets with just one final out in the eighth to work with. With the pressure mounting, Jose Iglesias stepped up and delivered a clutch infield single that deflected off pitcher Derek Law, allowing Taylor to score and tie the game at 1-1. The Mets would go on to win in extra innings, and the victory, combined with a Braves loss to the Dodgers, gave the Mets sole possession of the final wild card spot by one game.
Three Keys
The MAN on the Mound: Manaea's Masterful Stretch
With his latest performance tonight, Sean Manaea has now thrown a total of 94.2 innings since the start of July, leading the majors in that category. He has accumulated 101 strikeouts, allowing 74 hits and 12 walks over that span, resulting in an impressive 0.91 WHIP. Manaea also now has 11 quality starts since July, further solidifying his dominance on the mound. Manaea has completed at least 7.0 innings in seven of his 30 starts, tied for the 10th-most in the National League. Notably, he recorded back-to-back starts of 7.0 scoreless innings and 10 or more strikeouts on July 30 against Minnesota and August 5 at St. Louis, joining Tyler Glasnow and Spence Schwellenbach as the only pitchers this season to achieve consecutive starts of 7.0 or more innings with double-digit strikeouts. However, Manaea stands alone in not allowing a run in both outings. He is the first Mets pitcher to throw 7.0 or more innings and record 10 or more strikeouts in consecutive starts since Max Scherzer in April 2022. Additionally, the southpaw joins franchise legends Dwight Gooden and Tom Seaver as the only Mets pitchers to post back-to-back starts of 7.0 or more scoreless innings and double-digit strikeouts. Manaea is also just the 10th left-handed pitcher in MLB history to achieve this feat, the last being Chris Sale in June 2018. Since July, Manaea leads the majors in quality starts (11), first in innings (94.2), fifth in strikeouts (101), and tied for fifth in WHIP (0.91). Since June 14, he has allowed three or fewer runs 16 times, the second-most in the majors behind only Chris Sale (17).
ALVAREZ TO ALVAREZ
I'm sure Drew Smith likely picked up an assist to Dom Smith at some point, and Tom Glavine certainly assisted on an out to his brother Mike Glavine during their time together. However, it was especially fun to see Francisco Alvarez throw down to Eddy Alvarez (no relation) to catch José Tena attempting to steal second base. That rare Alvarez-to-Alvarez connection made for an exciting play, even if they share only a last name and not a family tree!
Butto, Diaz, Reed the Script: Mets’ Relievers Write a Scoreless Ending
The Mets' bullpen was stellar in their 2-1 extra-inning victory, with José Buttó, Edwin Díaz, and Reed Garrett combining for three scoreless innings of relief. Buttó entered in the 8th and delivered a flawless performance, striking out the side by fanning Jacob Young and Nasim Nuñez swinging, then catching Dylan Crews looking. Edwin Díaz followed in the 9th, working around a leadoff single by James Wood, who later stole second. Díaz induced groundouts from Juan Yepez and pinch-hitter Luis García Jr., before striking out José Tena with the go-ahead run at third, preserving the tie. In the 10th, Reed Garrett came on and expertly navigated the extra-innings pressure. After a sacrifice bunt moved the automatic runner to third, Garrett recorded two straight groundouts, including a smooth play by shortstop Luisangel Acuña, to keep the Nationals off the board and set the stage for the Mets' walk-off win.
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