Tonight’s Mets victory – 8-7 over the Braves in 14 innings, opening an 8-game lead over Atlanta – is one of the all-time classics. The Mets rallied from behind four separate times to tie the game, including down 4 runs in the seventh and trailing in the 11th, the latter on a monster home run by Cliff Floyd, the bright spot on a night when the struggling Floyd stranded two men in the 3d and the 8th and stranded the bases loaded in the 13th. Even Jorge Julio got in the act, getting out of a jam in the 14th after Chipper Jones singled to lead off. David Wright – who ended the game by driving in Carlos Beltran with a drive to the wall in left center – and Jose Reyes each reached base safely six times in the game, Reyes getting walked intentionally after starting the game 5-for-5. Beltran’s advance to second on a passed ball in the 14th reminded me of Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS, which I recently re-watched part of on DVD; I’d forgotten in that game how many pitches got away from an exhausted Alan Ashby in the late innings.
Yet again, as they have done repeatedly this year, the Mets won precisely the kind of game a championship team wins. They now stand 20-9, and if they remain healthy there’s no reason this team can’t win the National League pennant.
5 thoughts on “One For The Ages”
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Great win. No doubt about it. But, doesn’t the lack of depth in the rotation worry you? Any form of injury to Martinez or Glavine and it could unravel in a hurry. Trachsel has got to be better.
John-
I think Crank’s “if this team stays healthy” line sums it up. It’s not a throwaway comment. The Mets are very talented, carrying top, front-line talent. But they’re relatively old. Injuries were a concern when the season started, and they remain a concern.
Last night’s game was a gem. The Heilman/Sanchez one-two is soooooooo sweet, but Wagner’s long ball problems are starting to irk me.
And as for Big Jorge, I’ve been mocking him in a running gag over at my blog, but after appearing in two straight Met wins, I don’t know what to think anymore. What’s the world coming to?!
What I really liked was the heady play Beltran showed. Working out a walk is just what his job was with the wind blowing in, leading off the inning. Hen the baserunning play. I just love watching a team never give up, always keeping their head in it.
it’s all Willie Randolph’s doing
It’s not just because I’m a Phillies’ fan. Really. The Mets’ record is mighty impressive, but they just don’t look like a championship team (…the counter to that, I guess is, Sure, but they win like one.) Thin rotation, thin pen, age, and Julio Franco and Endy Chavez wasting critical roster spots add up to a bad second half. The Mets can win the division if they’re ten or more up July first. If not, they won’t.