Terry Collins turned to words. It was all that was left. So Thursday, the embattled manager went on a rant in front of the television cameras about playing with energy and passion. He later reiterated the message to his players in a clubhouse meeting.
Deeds, however, carry much more weight. And though it took 11 agonizing innings on an anxious Saturday night, the Mets offered a sliver of hope that they may yet pull out of their tailspin.
Wilmer Flores grounded to second base and Ryan Schimpf threw wide of home, pushing the Mets to a 3-2 victory over the Padres that ended a four-game losing streak.
Neil Walker began the rally with a leadoff single. After Jay Bruce flied out to deep rightfield, James Loney poked a single to left. Running aggressively, Walker made it to third with a headfirst slide, setting the stage for Flores, who recorded his fifth career walk-off RBI because Schimpf threw home instead of trying to start a double play.
With the win, the Mets (58-58) climbed back to the .500 mark. Gabriel Ynoa pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 11th to get the victory in his first big-league appearance.
The Mets had pushed themselves to the brink of a victory in the ninth, just one out away from the first win on this homestand. But closer Jeurys Familia allowed a game-tying solo shot to Wil Myers, stunning the crowd at Citi Field.
After beginning the season by converting his first 36 save chances, Familia has blown three of his last six opportunities. He had not allowed a homer in the regular season since Sept. 23 last season.
Little has come easy for the Mets.
Righthander Jacob deGrom did not factor in the decision despite tossing seven brilliant innings. He allowed one run and struck out nine.
“We’ve got the right guy up here,” Collins said, before watching deGrom extend what has been a recent run of dominance.
These Mets had been built on the foundation of dominant pitching. But injuries have torn up that script. Matt Harvey is out for the season and Steven Matz has had to muddle through with a painful bone spur in his left elbow.
Noah Syndergaard, for all of his guile and raw power, has looked increasingly mortal as the season has dragged along. But deGrom has raised his game, all as the Mets fight desperately to stay within reach of the wild-card race. In his last nine starts, deGrom has posted a 1.49 ERA, making his early-season struggles a distant memory.
“He wasn’t necessarily himself the first couple of months,” Collins said. “He’s really settled in and pitched well.”
DeGrom’s only mistake came in the seventh, on an 0-and-1 changeup that Yangervis Solarte deposited into the rightfield stands for a solo homer. Other than that, deGrom was virtually flawless. He did not surrender a hit until there was one out in the fifth. He gave up only three hits.
Still, his effort alone wouldn’t be enough.
In the first, Jose Reyes wasted little time making his presence felt. In his first game back off the disabled list, Reyes walked, then moved to third base on a wild pitch and a throwing error by catcher Christian Bethancourt.
Walker knocked in Reyes with a single to left.
“We need to win some ballgames,” Reyes said before the game. “We need to find a way to win some games, hopefully starting tonight. We need to put it together. I remember 2006. We had maybe 10 guys injured in 2006, and we still made it to the playoffs. It’s no excuse. Whoever’s here has to contribute.”
After Solarte’s tying homer, the Mets answered by nudging ahead 2-1 in the seventh. Kelly Johnson lifted a deep sacrifice fly, forcing Padres centerfielder Travis Jankowski to make a Willie Mays-style, over the shoulder catch.
It was enough to plate Flores from third base, after he had been moved there on a successful sacrifice bunt by catcher Travis d’Arnaud. But small ball wasn’t enough, and the Mets paid for scoring just one run.
..... - Newsday