The Mets needed every one of their seven runs to win the game.
The Mets started their road trip with a late night game against the Athletics, formerly of Oakland, now playing in a minor league stadium. The A’s only had one home win so far this season, and the Mets were coming off one loss that followed a six game win streak. JP Sears was starting for the Athletics, and Griffin Canning for the Mets.
Sears got off to a hot start to the game. Other than a two-out single from Pete Alonso, Sears set down the Mets with ease, including two back-to-back punchouts of Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto to start the game. Not to be outdone, Canning followed it up with a perfect inning in the bottom of the first, with two strikeouts of his own.
The Mets came out blazing in the second, with Brandon Nimmo leading off with a home run to put the Mets ahead early. After a Mark Vientos strikeout, back-to-back doubles by Luisangel Acuña and Luis Torrens tacked on another run for the Mets. Sears settled down after that and got a strikeout and popout to end the inning without any further damage. In the bottom of the inning, Shea Langeliers walked and JJ Bleday singled to put two runners on with no outs. Jacob Wilson hit into a double play, which moved Langeliers to third with two outs. Miguel Andújar singled to drive in Langeliers and cut the Mets’ lead in half, and Gio Urshela singled to put two runners on, but Max Muncy (not that one, the other one) hit a hard line out to Nimmo that took Nimmo tail over teakettle, but he held on to the ball to end the inning.
In the third, a fielding error and hit by pitch put Soto and Alonso on with no outs. But Sears got three consecutive outs to strand the two runners and keep the Mets lead at one run. In the bottom of the inning, the A’s did threaten with a one-out triple by Brent Rooker, but Canning was able to get two outs to end the inning and strand Rooker at third. In the fourth, Acuña walked, then stole second to put a runner in scoring position with no outs. But Sears set down the next three batters in order, ending the inning. Canning had another clean inning in the bottom of the fourth.
The fifth was a struggle for the Athletics. Soto singled to lead off, then Alonso doubled to drive him in for an insurance run. Mitch Spence was then brought in to relieve Sears, and he struggled with a wild pitch and a walk, but ultimately he was able to get through the inning without any more runs scoring. Canning had some trouble in the bottom of the fifth, with a leadoff walk of Urshela. Another two out walk of Rooker put two runners on but Canning wriggled out of the jam without a run crossing the plate.
The sixth was a big inning for the Mets. Jose Siri drew a one out walk, and Lindor reached base by a fielding error. Soto walked to load the bases, and Alonso hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Siri for the Mets’ fourth run. Marte hit a double to center field to drive in two more runs and give the Mets a four run lead. The Athletics brought in Angel Perdomo to pitch, and after a Nimmo walk, he got out of it without any more runs coming in to score. In the bottom of the inning, Shea Langeliers led off with a double, then Jacob WIlson singled to drive him in for the A’s second run. Andújar hit a home run to bring the A’s within two runs of the Mets, which was the end of the road for Canning. Reed Garrett was brought in to try and close out the inning, but he got into a bit of trouble himself. With two outs he allowed a double and gave up two walks to load the bases, but Soderstrom lined out to Soto to end the inning before any more runs could score.
Jose LeClerc came in for the A’s in the seventh inning, and he had a clean inning, setting down the bottom of the Mets lineup in order. Ryne Stanek came in for the Mets in the bottom of the seventh and he did the same thing to the A’s batters, a welcome development from the last inning.
The top of the eighth inning was punctuated by a two-out Pete Alonso solo home run to tack on another run for the Mets, but no other batter even reached base in the inning. A.J. Minter came in for the bottom of the inning and got another clean inning of the Mets, putting the Mets three outs away from recording the win. Jason Alexander (no, not the actor) came in for the Athletics in the ninth, and other than a two-out Acuña single, Alexander got through it with no problems. Edwin Díaz came in for the ninth, and it was as much of a roller coaster as any recent Díaz appearance has been. A lead off walk of Lawrence Butler put a runner on with no outs, then a one-out walk ended with a pitch to the backstop put two on with Butler at third. Langeliers doubled, scoring Butler and putting runners at second and third with still only one out. Bleday hit a sacrifice fly, putting the Athletics within one run but with two outs. Wilson grounded out, ending the game after a very stressful inning.
The Athletics have now won one of seven games at their interim home, which is something of an offensive launching pads given it is, in actuality, a minor league ballpark. The Mets continue to roll with their offense picking them up when the pitching falters. Díaz remains a concern, but at least for tonight he got the save. The Mets play two more in Sacramento, then head east to Minnesota.
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Big Mets winner: Pete Alonso, +30.4% WPA
Big Mets loser: Francisco Lindor, -6.7% WPA
Mets pitchers: +20.7% WPA
Mets hitters: +29.3% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: JJ Bleday’s sacrifice fly in the ninth, +13.8% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Shea Langeliers’ RBI double in the ninth, -17.1% WPA