Ranking the 10 best wins of the regular season

The 2022 New York Mets season will go down as one of the best in franchise history. 101 wins is quite an accomplishment and is one Mets fans should be proud of. Yes, the team didn't end up winning the division title but if you told me entering this season that the Mets would be a 101-win team with a spot in the playoffs, I would've been thrilled.

This team dealt with injuries and adversity, yet it stuck together and performed well until the end. This season saw the Mets debuts of guys like Max Scherzer and Starling Marte and the resurgences of guys like Edwin Diaz and Jeff McNeil.

This Mets team is as good as any in baseball and even with the disappointing ending to the regular season, I believe they have a legitimate shot to make a deep run through October.

This regular season was easily the best one I've ever experienced as a Mets fan. I felt they would win every night and actually had a real reason to. This season included some of the best comebacks I've ever seen as a baseball fan, let alone a Mets fan.

10) Best NY Mets wins of the season: 8/31 vs Dodgers

As September approached, the Mets were finishing a very rough August schedule with a series at home against the best team in baseball, the Dodgers. The Mets split a series in Los Angeles earlier in the year, so whoever would win this three-game series would take the season series.

After a narrow 4-3 defeat in the opener, the Mets were looking to even up the series on a Wednesday night. This night would be Timmy Trumpet's second attempt at playing the trumpets live at Citi Field when Edwin Diaz entered.

The pitching matchup was elite. The Dodgers were throwing first-time all-star Tyler Anderson while the Mets had Jacob deGrom on their side.

The Mets struck first on a Starling Marte two-run home run in the third. This would be all the Mets needed as Jacob deGrom dominated one of the best lineups in baseball.

deGrom would go seven innings allowing just a Mookie Betts solo home run in the sixth inning. deGrom would give up three hits, one walk, and strike out nine.

This game featured the catch of the year when Brandon Nimmo robbed Justin Turner of a game-tying home run in the seventh.

With a 2-1 lead after seven, the Mets called on Adam Ottavino to pitch the eighth. The quality set-up man got through the inning with ease, including striking out Mookie Betts.

After the Mets did not score in the bottom of the eighth, Timmy Trumpet blasted the trumpets in front of a crowd of 41,799 rowdy Mets fans. Edwin Diaz was facing a lot of pressure to lock this save down and he did not disappoint.

Diaz got Trea Turner, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith in order to secure a big 2-1 win for the Mets. This was one of the cleanest games played this season and could be a preview of a matchup in October.

9) Best NY Mets wins of the season: 8/7 vs Braves

Jacob deGrom missed 13 months with various arm injuries. He was on the verge of having one of, if not the greatest pitching seasons ever before going down right before the all-star break last season. He made his return in August of this season, pitching well in Washington.

While that was all great, deGrom was going to have a real test on his hands for his second start back. This was going to be his 2022 home debut in front of a packed crowd on a Sunday afternoon. The opponent, the Braves.

The Mets had taken the first three of four from Atlanta including sweeping a doubleheader the day before deGrom's start. With a win, they'd take four of five and push their lead against the Braves back up to six and a half games.

I was fortunate enough to attend this game in person. When "Simple Man" played in the ballpark, I got the chills. I was seeing my favorite player make his Citi Field return in a game of such magnitude for the Mets.

deGrom looked like vintage deGrom in this one. He was pouring in 100+ mph fastballs and 95+ mph sliders.

The Mets were able to pounce early against impressive Braves rookie Spencer Strider thanks to two-run doubles by Pete Alonso and Mark Canha in the third inning. Strider was out of the game after just 2.2 innings pitched.

Jacob deGrom was as dominant as I had ever seen him despite facing a loaded Braves lineup. He retired the first 17 Braves to face him including 12 strikeouts. He got 18 whiffs on 20 swings against his slider, which is unheard of.

As deGrom tired out a bit, the right-hander did walk Ehire Adrianza before giving up a two-run home run to Dansby Swanson. That home run ended his day, but this outing signaled to Mets fans that he was back and still an ace in this league.

The Mets bullpen was exhausted from the doubleheader so they had to rely on Joely Rodriguez to give them 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.

With a three-run lead heading to the ninth, the Mets called on Edwin Diaz to close. Diaz did so by striking out the side against Dansby Swanson, Matt Olson, and Austin Riley to end it.

This was another very complete win for the Mets and a very triumphant return for deGrom.

8) Best NY Mets wins of the season: 6/5 at Dodgers

The Mets headed out west in the beginning of June to face the Dodgers, Padres, and Angels for ten grueling games. The road trip got off to a brutal start as the Mets looked overmatched, scoring just one run in the first two games at Dodger Stadium.

The Mets won the third game of the series thanks to two home runs by Pete Alonso. Securing a split of the series seemed pretty unlikely as the Mets had Trevor Williams starting against Julio Urias.

While I try to be as optimistic as anyone, I had a pretty bad feeling about this game. That feeling worsened when Trea Turner hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.

The Mets showed all season that they were a resilient bunch, and they proved it again on this day, by never giving up. Williams did not allow another run in his five innings of work which was huge.

The Mets would tie the game on a Pete Alonso RBI double in the eighth inning. Eduardo Escobar's sacrifice fly gave the Mets the lead, and Tomas Nido's RBI single gave them some insurance.

With the meat of the Dodgers order due up in the bottom of the eighth, Buck Showalter turned to Edwin Diaz to try and keep the Mets in front. Naturally, he retired the side in order.

With a 4-2 lead in hand heading into the bottom of the ninth I figured even with Diaz out of the game, Seth Lugo would be fine to end it. I was wrong as the Dodgers tied it on an Eddy Alvarez single in the bottom of the ninth.

The Mets ended up taking the lead in extra innings on a J.D. Davis RBI double, but they only got one run.

With the key Mets relievers either used or unavailable, the Mets turned to Adonis Medina in the bottom of the tenth inning to try and shut the door. Medina was set to face Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Trea Turner in that inning with the ghost runner at second base.

I don't even think the most optimistic Mets fan thought that Medina would get the job done. To everyone's surprise, Medina retired Betts and Freeman. Trea Turner would reach on an unfortunate catcher's interference call. He then stole second base, so the Dodgers had the tying run at third and the winning run at second.

Instead of walking Will Smith who had homered in the ninth to face a struggling Justin Turner, the Mets opted to attack the Dodgers' backstop. Medina attacked and struck Smith out to end the game. This was easily one of the more improbable wins I've ever seen, with the starting pitching matchup and the reliever who closed it out.

7) Best NY Mets wins of the season: 5/29 vs Phillies

The Mets dominated the season series against their rival Phillies, winning 14 of the 19 contests. While the records weren't close, the games were. This one on Sunday Night Baseball was one of the best.

The Mets had taken the first two games of this weekend series, looking for the sweep against Zack Wheeler and the Phillies.

Philadelphia's defensive woes against the Mets showed in this game and contributed to three early runs for New York.

Wheeler settled in after a rough first and gave the Phillies five scoreless after that first frame. On the other side, Chris Bassitt allowed just one run in six strong innings.

Heading into the eighth this game seemed close to over with Edwin Diaz looming, but the Phillies had other plans. Nick Castellanos hit a backbreaking three-run home run against Adam Ottavino in the top of the eighth to give the Phillies their first lead of the game.

This Mets team doesn't quit. Facing Corey Knebel in the ninth inning, Nick Plummer, an outfielder without a hit in the Major Leagues, hit a first-pitch game-tying home run. I was very upset that the Mets didn't hit for Plummer, but instead, Plummer had one of the Mets' biggest hits of the season.

Edwin Diaz pitched a scoreless top of the tenth and Eduardo Escobar hit a walk-off double to win the game and sweep the series for the surging Mets.

This comeback was so improbable because of the guy who ended up hitting the home run. Unfortunately, Plummer was DFA'd a couple of months later, but Mets fans won't forget that home run for a long time.

6) Best NY Mets wins of the season: 7/9 vs Marlins

Keith Hernandez finally had his number retired on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. The Mets were set to take on the Marlins in front of a sold-out crowd of 43,336 fans.

Pete Alonso got the scoring started with a home run. It was fitting to see already one of the greatest first basemen in Mets history hit a home run on the day that the greatest first baseman in Mets history got his number retired.

Brian Anderson's two-run double gave Miami the lead in the sixth, but that was short-lived as Francisco Lindor launched a two-run home run to give the Mets the lead right back in the bottom half.

The game remained 3-2 Mets until Jesus Aguilar hit a solo homer off of Adam Ottavino in the top of the eighth. The game remained tied and headed to extra innings.

In the top of the tenth, Miami took the lead on a Jon Berti RBI single. The Mets held the Marlins there which was huge heading into their half.

Eduardo Escobar and Luis Guillorme both struck out so the Mets had the runner on second with Tomas Nido serving as their last chance. The defensive-minded catcher hit a game-tying double down the third base line on a ball that third baseman Brian Anderson probably should've at least knocked down and kept Miami in front.

Brandon Nimmo, the next batter, hit a chopper back to the mound which Tanner Scott bobbled and threw away leading to an improbable Mets victory.

The Marlins melted down in the bottom of the tenth and as Keith would say, displayed some poor fundies.

4) Best NY Mets wins of the season: 9/28 vs Marlins

While the Marlins are always a pain for the Mets to play against, New York did win 13 of its 19 meetings against Miami this season.

The Mets were at home for a huge two-game series against the Marlins while they were trying to clinch the National League East. After losing the first game, the finale was a game the Mets really had to have.

Despite knowing this, the Mets came out flat once again. The Mets were down 4-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning and Miami starter Jesus Luzardo was dealing against this Mets offense.

The Mets finally got on the board in the seventh thanks to an Eduardo Escobar two-run homer. Adam Ottavino then came up with a crucial scoreless top of the eighth giving the Mets a chance to cut further into the Marlins' lead.

Marlins reliever Tanner Scott walked three of the first four batters in the bottom of the eighth to give the Mets bases loaded with Eduardo Escobar coming up. Escobar came through with a two-run single to tie the game at four.

After Edwin Diaz struck out the side (again) in the top of the ninth, The Mets were unable to score in the bottom half and the game headed to extras.

Drew Smith worked a scoreless top of the tenth to give the Mets a golden opportunity to win the game. In the bottom half, the Marlins opted to intentionally walk Jeff McNeil to face the raging hot Escobar. Of course, Escobar came up clutch with a walk-off single to give the Mets one of their biggest wins of the season.

Escobar had three hits in his final three at-bats, driving in all five runs the Mets would score in this huge win. It was a great way to cap off a September in which the third baseman won the NL Player of the Month Award.

3) Best NY Mets wins of the season: 8/21 at Phillies

The Mets were in the middle of a daunting ten-game road trip which included four games in Atlanta, four in Philadelphia, and two in the Bronx against the Yankees. The Mets lost three of four in Atlanta making the series in Philadelphia an important one for the Mets to pick up some games that they lost.

The Mets took the opener and split a doubleheader, giving New York a chance to take three of four in Philadelphia.

In the Atlanta series, both Taijuan Walker and Carlos Carrasco left games early with injuries. This meant the Mets had to turn to guys like David Peterson and Trevor Williams to start games in Philadelphia. Because of the doubleheader, those pitchers were used and the bullpen was pretty exhausted as well.

The Mets called up Jose Butto from AAA Syracuse to start the finale and they had Nate Fisher brought up as well to be used in relief. Both pitchers were making their MLB debuts.

Butto found himself down 3-0 before recording a single out and down 4-0 at the end of one. Most teams would just give up in that scenario, but the Mets ended up evening the score thanks in large part to a two-run single by third-string catcher Michael Perez. In the bottom of the fourth, the Phillies would re-take the lead on Alec Bohm's second three-run homer of the day.

Butto was done after allowing seven runs in four innings, and Nate Fisher was coming in. The southpaw somehow threw three scoreless innings to keep the Mets in the game. In the top of the seventh, Mark Canha hit a game-tying three-run homer.

After a Jean Segura home run off of Trevor May in the bottom of the eighth, the Phillies took the lead once again.

This team showed again that it doesn't quit and Mark Canha hit his second home run of the day off of David Robertson to give the Mets their first lead of the game, 9-8. After a pitching change, Brandon Nimmo hit a home run to extend the lead.

The Mets had a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth with Edwin Diaz on the mound. This was one of Diaz's more shaky performances of the season, as he gave up a couple of singles followed by two straight fly balls that were caught on the warning track.

With two outs and runners on first and second with the Mets up 10-9, Diaz struck out pinch hitter Darrick Hall to finish off a thrilling win and add to the Mets' dominance over the Phillies in 2022.

2) Best NY Mets wins of the season: 4/25 at Cardinals

After a great start to the season, the Mets headed to St. Louis for what was going to be their hardest series of the season thus far.

Max Scherzer faced off against Miles Mikolas in an outstanding pitchers duel. Both starters pitched seven scoreless innings. After the Mets failed to score in the top of the eighth, Trevor May came in trying to keep the game scoreless.

The right-hander was unable to do so as Tyler O'Neil hit a two-run single to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

With three outs to play with, the Mets attempted to try and come back. The Mets did get an Eduardo Escobar single but had two outs with Escobar at first in the ninth against Cardinals closer Giovanny Gallegos.

With the Mets down to their final strike, Mark Canha hit a ground ball down the third base line that nine-time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado fielded but threw high to allow Escobar who had advanced earlier in the at-bat on defensive indifference to score and keep the Mets alive.

Jeff McNeil then hit a double down the right field line to give the Mets runners on second and third with two outs and Dominic Smith coming up to pinch hit for Tomas Nido.

Smith ripped a ground ball to first where four-time Gold Glove winner Paul Goldschmidt made an unbelievable stop but Gallegos did not cover in time at first base, Dom Smith dove in safely, and with Gallegos' back turned, pinch-runner Travis Jankowski and McNeil both scored on the play to give the Mets an unlikely 3-2 lead.

Brandon Nimmo hit the first pitch thrown by new Cardinals pitcher T.J. McFarland over the wall in right for a two-run homer to give the Mets a 5-2 lead. All of the damage was done with two outs in the top of the ninth.

Edwin Diaz came on for the save and struck out Harrison Bader to end it. The Mets won a game they had no business winning thanks to a little bit of luck and a lot of hustle from Dom Smith.

1) Best NY Mets wins of the season: 5/5 at Phillies

The Mets headed to Philadelphia for the second time in the first two months of the season for what was supposed to be a four-game series to try and extend their lead.

The opener of the series featured a pitching matchup of Taijuan Walker against Aaron Nola.

This game got off to a very bad start as the Phillies scored four runs in the first inning. Philadelphia tacked on one in the second and two more in the fourth to extend their lead to 7-0. Walker allowed all seven runs, six of them were earned.

The Mets finally got some offense as Starling Marte launched a solo home run off of Nola to get the Mets on the board. Chasen Shreve and Adonis Medina combined to give the Mets three scoreless innings to keep the score 7-1.

In what was a lopsided game, the Phillies turned to James Norwood to try and finish off the Mets. Francisco Lindor hit a two-run homer to cut the lead to 7-3, and after the Mets got two more base runners the Phillies put in their closer Corey Knebel to try and get the final two outs of the night.

Mark Canha singled to drive in a run, and all of a sudden the Mets had the tying run at the plate with one out. Unfortunately, Dom Smith struck out for the second out, so it was all up to pinch hitter J.D. Davis to try and keep the game alive for New York.

Davis came through with a ringing double down the left field line turning on a fastball for a change and cutting the Phillies lead to 7-5. With runners on second and third with two outs, the Mets were just a Brandon Nimmo single away from tying the game.

Nimmo lined a 1-1 curveball into center field, scoring Canha and pinch runner Travis Jankowski to even up the score at seven. On the very next pitch, Starling Marte hit a ball off the top of the wall in left-center field to score Nimmo all the way from first and give the Mets their first lead of the night.

Edwin Diaz came on for the ninth and struck out two of the three batters he faced to give the Mets their most unlikely win that I've ever seen. From 7-0 down, 7-1 in the ninth, the Mets won a game they had absolutely no business winning.