In the least likely way possible, not once but twice, the Mets came back to beat the Braves 8-7 to win a wild card spot in the National League.
Down 3-0 in the eighth inning, the Mets staged a six-run rally to take a 6-3 lead on the Braves. But then, Edwin Díaz coughed up that lead in the eighth inning thanks in part to his own inability to cover first base on a ground ball with two outs followed by a bases clearing double from Ozzie Albies, giving the Braves four runs and putting the Braves on the cusp of clinching a wild card with a 7-6 lead going to the ninth inning.
But as was the case earlier in the game and all year long, the Mets did not quit.
Starling Marte singled with one out in the ninth, and then Francisco Lindor hit the biggest home run in his Mets career and perhaps in his entire career, a two-run shot to put the Mets in the lead for good.
Certainly, this was one of the greatest games in franchise history with the Mets truly earning their 41st and most important comeback win of the season.
On May 30, the Mets were 11 games under .500 at 22-33, but have proceeded to go 67-39 since which is the best record in baseball during that span. With the win in game one of the doubleheader, the Mets clinched the 11th playoff berth in franchise history and the second one in three seasons.
The Mets are now 6-6 against the Braves in 2024, 17-8 in September, 66-13 when leading after seven innings, 30-21 against the National League East, they have 24 wins in their last at-bat, and they’re 40-26 since the All-Star Game.
If the Mets win game two tonight, they will eliminate the Braves from playoff contention and head to San Diego to begin the National League Wild Card Series tomorrow night. If they lose, the Braves will win the second wild card, the Mets will win the third wild card, both will have eliminated the Diamondbacks and the Mets will fly back to Milwaukee to begin the National League Wild Card Series tomorrow night.
To quote Carl the sign man of Shea who once displayed his sign, " THERE ARE NO WORDS"!!
What a game. In Lindor we trust!