NY Mets: 3 games that define heartbreak courtesy of one pitcher

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 12: A baseball hat and a glove sit on the bench in the dugout before a game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 12, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 3-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 12: A baseball hat and a glove sit on the bench in the dugout before a game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 12, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 3-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Jeurys Familia #27 of the New York Mets in action against the San Francisco Giants during the National League Wild Card game at Citi Field on October 5, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Giants defeated the Mets 3-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

October 5th, 2016 Mets vs. Giants

The 2016 Wild Card game was the ultimate pitcher’s duel. Madison Bumgarner started for the San Francisco Giants and Noah Syndergaard started for the Mets. Bumgarner went 9 innings giving up no runs on four hits while Noah went 7 innings and allowed no runs.

Both pitchers were dealing in a win-or-go-home game that neither team deserved to lose, but unfortunately, one team did lose, and it was in heartbreaking fashion once again.

The Mets were obviously the team that ended up losing 3-0 and the heartbreak came in the top of the ninth. One pitch erased the stellar performance that Noah Syndergaard had in that game.

After Noah Syndergaard was taken out of the game Addison Reed was brought in and only allowed 1 hit and no runs. Then came Familia once again. Don’t get me wrong I love Familia and I think he was huge for the team in big moments over his Mets career but he has been at the center for two Mets heartbreakers and that is tough.

Familia came in and immediately gave up a double to Brandon Crawford which instantly sunk a lot of Mets fans hopes. He then got Angel Pagan to strike out but ended up walking Joe Panik.

This put two on for Conor Gillaspie who in 2016 only had six regular-season home runs but on an October night, Gillaspie seemed to turn into Babe Ruth and rocket a Familia sinker 103.2 mph to right-center field for a three-run homer, and Mets fans at that moment knew it was over.

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The Mets went very quickly in the bottom of the ninth with two flyouts and a lineout and the Giants went on to win the game and advance to the divisional round.

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