Mets Top 10 Wins of 2016, #2 – August 29 against Marlins

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Recap:

Every Mets fan was programmed to think that a RHP Rafael Montero spot start call-up from Double-A Binghamton facing RHP Jose Fernandez was going to result in a lousy end for the hometown team, who were turning their fortunes around, but coming off a 5-1 loss to the Phillies that past Sunday. They entered the night one game behind the Marlins for second place as well as position in the Wild Card hunt.

Montero’s control was way off, but he matched Fernandez zero for zero — the closest the Fish came being the bottom of the fourth when he stranded the bases loaded.

He got through the fifth and that was it, the bullpen taking it from there.

LHP Sean Gilmartin took over for an inning, and had a very effective one, keeping the Marlins off the board. Jose Fernandez finished his game in the sixth inning, having kept the Mets to three hits, though allowing four walks.

LHP Jerry Blevins for the seventh? Clean.

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RHP Kyle Barraclough for the bottom half? Mr. Clean.

RHP Addison Reed took over in the eighth, and he had been Mr. Mostly Clean for the year. He got the first two out but then gave up a double to Ichiro Suzuki, who kept adding to his 3,000 hits and passed Wade Boggs on the all-time list with that one. On the very next pitch, the Marlins had the lead as Xavier Scruggs doubled in Ichiro.

We have Jose Reyes here to double leading off innings after runs are given up, and he did just that. Alejandro De Aza moved him over to third on a fly ball, bringing Yoenis Cespedes to the plate. With Yo in an 0-2 hole, A.J. Ramos, who had taken over at the beginning of the inning, threw one to the backstop. Reyes immediately broke for home as J.T. Realmuto ran for the ball. Ramos barreled towards home plate as Reyes broke the sound barrier, sliding in as Ramos attempted to receive the ball, but failed. Reyes was safe, but A.J. fell forwards, his right side on Reyes’s head.

Both a bit shaken up as Mets fans gasped about their welcomed back shortstop, Reyes got up and walked off to the dugout, with the appearance that the wind had been knocked out of him. He was able enough to high five everyone in the dugout.

The ninth was clean for RHP Jeurys Familia, and the Mets couldn’t get anything done in the bottom half.

LHP Josh Smoker had one of his best innings of 2016, and was as pumped up as he could be when he struck out Realmuto in the top of the 10th.

In the bottom half, Reyes made a bid for a walkoff but it died in deep right field. De Aza struck out looking, bringing up Yoenis Cespedes to just do what he does. And he done did it.

The Mets had taken care of business, Yo was the hero, and they found themselves tied with the Marlins at 67-64.