The Mets long ago reached the point where they can barely afford losses. And yet they keep coming close to the brink of defeat, only to snatch victories away from games they seemed unlikely to win.
So it went Thursday, when the Mets gave back a three-run lead and erased a three-run deficit, before Brandon Nimmo hit a go-ahead solo homer to key a four-run rally in the ninth inning of a 10-6 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Dominic Smith added an RBI triple for some insurance, and Robinson Canó hit a two-run homer, before Edwin Díaz locked down the bottom of the ninth.
C?utch. #LGM pic.twitter.com/MOUMu78SLq
— New York Mets (@Mets) September 18, 2020
? @RobinsonCano ? pic.twitter.com/3GkuPtkzRU
— New York Mets (@Mets) September 18, 2020
Starting pitcher Seth Lugo was off from the start, suffering from a slight velocity drop and struggling with his fastball location. As a result, the Phillies jumped all over his fastball and sinker, crushing three of them over the fence for back-to-back-to-back homers in the first. Adam Haseley also hit an RBI single off Lugo, who allowed four extra-base hits in the first inning alone.
But standout relief performances from Erasmo Ramírez and Chasen Shreve kept the Mets close enough to tie things on a Pete Alonso homer and a Nimmo two-run triple in the sixth.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].