A few weeks ago the New York Mets fans were up in arms about their shortstop Wilmer Flores. He was repeatedly committing errors and his approach at the plate seemed to be fading. Even speculation began to swirl again about the Mets possibly trading for Colorado Rockies' SS Troy Tulowitzki. Fast forward to today and you will see Mets' players and fans alike celebrating around the young 23 year-old shortstop as he delivers another fatal blow to the Philadelphia Phillies, this time a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning, 5-4 Mets win.
Though, it never seemed like Flores was going to be needed in that situation. Mets' starter Jacob deGrom picked up right where he left off in his last start when he retired the last 23 batters he faced. After giving up a couple hits in the 1st inning, deGrom set down the next 11 Phillies' hitters and he once more took a shutout into the 8th inning.
After both Carlos Ruiz and Cesar Hernandez singled with one out the 8th, the Mets turned to their usually reliable bullpen. Hansel Robles got the call to face Ben Revere and he served up a two-run RBI triple, cutting the Mets lead to only one. Freddy Galvis followed Revere with a RBI single and just like that the game was tied. Maikel Franco later came to bat in the top of the 8th inning and drove home Galvis that gave the Phillies a 4-3 lead in the blink of an eye.
With their backs against the wall the Mets got a sacrifice fly from Wilmer Flores in the bottom of the 8th on a 3-2 count. Despite being a tie ballgame New York opted to go with closer Jeurys Familia in the top of the 9th and he conveyed not only a scoreless 9th, but a scoreless 10th as well.
Following a Juan Lagares lead off single and a Lucas Duda walk, the Mets appeared to be in business in the bottom of the 10th inning until Daniel Murphy grounded into a double play that almost put a hault to the Mets' attack. Michael Cuddyer walked and that brought up Wilmer Flores who going into this at bat was 0-3 on the night, with all three outs being on solid contact.
Phillies' pitcher Elvis Araujo got behind the Mets' shortstop 1-0 and when he tried to throw a get-me-over slider, well, ballgame. Flores roped it over Galvis' head into left field and was mauled by his teammates rounding 1st base.
This marks the second contest in as many days where Flores delivered the game-winning strike. Yesterday, he hit a three-run homerun in the bottom of the 6th inning that broke a 3-3 deadlock and gave the Mets a 6-3 win.
Noteable Stats:
New York Mets' starter Jacob deGrom went 7.1 innings allowing 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, and 9 SO.
Philadelphia Phillies starter Jerome Williams went 6.0 innings allowing 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, and 4 SO.
Lucas Duda had one RBI for the Mets while both Michael Cuddyer and Wilmer Flores had two.
Freddy Galvis, Maikel Franco had one RBI for the Phillies and Ben Revere had two.
What's Next?
The Mets and Phillies will finish up the three-game series at 1:10 PM EST tomorrow. Noah Syndergaard (1-2 3.63 ERA) will get the start for the Mets against Sean O'Sullivan (1-1 3.54 ERA) and the Phillies.