Mets Series Review: One Game Away

Frank Franklin II. Shutterstock Images.

The New York Mets finished the season with a sweep of the Nationals, taking out their frustrations after the sweep in Atlanta at a water-logged Citi Field. The Mets outscored the Nationals 21-5 in the three games, as Francisco Alvarez had his first career home run, and Jeff McNeil won the batting crown. In the end, the Mets finished 101-61 on the season, the same record as the Braves, but by losing the final game in Atlanta lost the tiebreaker 10-9. It should be noted the Braves were 3-6 in two series at Citi Field, while the Mets were 3-7 in Atlanta. The Braves had the extra home game and got the tiebreaker. 

After rain postponed the game on Monday, the Mets played a doubleheader on Tuesday. The weather was not much better as a cold mist fell throughout both games. In the opener, Carlos Carassco took the mound. He was a Chips Ahoy cooking, pitching four innings while allowing two runs on five hits, as Buck Showalter looked to keep the bullpen sharp by giving both starters pitch counts assignments in the doubleheader with an eye toward the Wild Card Series. Brandon Nimmo supplied the Mets' offense, who had a two-run double in the second and a home run in the fourth. 

After Carassco left the game in the fifth following a two-run home run to Riley Adams, the Mets called on Drew Smith, who gave up two hits but held the 4-2 lead. Drew Peterson was perfect in the sixth, while Adam Ottavino got five outs before Edwin Diaz made his final appearance in the regular season. Diaz retired all four batters, striking out one as he recorded his 32nd save, while Ottavino got credited with the win. 

Game 2 started with a bang for the Mets. Actually, it was three bangs, as Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, and Jeff McNeil homered against Paolo Espino to start the game. It was the first time the Mets had three straight home runs to start a game. Nimmo came up again in the first inning and had two more RBI with a single as the Mets scored seven runs. Taijuan Walker pitched four and one-third inning, allowing four hits with ten strikeouts before giving way to the Mets bullpen. 

Stephen Nogosek pitched two and two-third innings, allowing three hits, while Tylor Megill allowed two hits in two innings, with the Mets winning 8-0. In the sixth inning, Francisco Alvarez hit a bomb for his first major league hit and home run. Alvarez added a double as the Mets took the Nationals to the woodshed. However, the division was lost, with the Braves winning 2-1 against the Marlins. 

In the finale, Jeff McNeil was among several Mets getting the day off as the game was delayed by rain. McNeil knew that unless FreddieFreeman went 4-for-4, he would win the batting crown. When Freeman had a flyout in the fifth the batting crown was secure, earning McNeil a standing ovation. The Mets went a bullpen game, as Mychal Givens returning from 21 days on the injured list, allowed one run in the first inning. The Mets got three runs in the first on a home run by Mark Canha. The Mets would score three runs in each of the first three innings, as Francisco Lindor had a bases-clearing double, and James McCann hit a home run in the third. 

Trevor Williams pitched six innings to earn the win, allowing two runs on six hits, with six strikeouts. Trevor May and Joely Rodriguez pitched the final two innings, as the Mets won 9-2. The Mets finished 101-61, the second-best season in franchise history. Now come the playoffs and a matchup against the San Diego Padres, a team that gives the Mets fits.