Just Mets

The Mets defeated the Phillies in extra-innings on Tuesday by the score of 5-4 at Citi Field. Here are my takeaways from tonight’s win…

Wilmer. Alejandro. Flores.

He had a hell of a plate appearance in the eighth inning. It only resulted in a sacrifice fly, but he battled Ken Giles for eight or nine pitches, and he simply served a ball into centerfield for a sac fly to plate Lucas Duda for the tying run.

Then in the tenth inning, he came up big with the game winner with a single to center to score Juan Lagares to win the game.

He’s come up with some huge hits lately, he’s making contact, staying in at-bats and working counts. He’s aggressive and doesn’t walk, but he’s attacking and showing good knowledge of the strike zone lately, and doing some major damage particularly in this series.

A big little thing from Kevin Plawecki.

The Mets might not have won this game if not for Plawecki’s throw to nab Odubel Herrera at second base after he reached on a leadoff walk. Why? Because Carlos Ruiz followed with a single which unquestionably would’ve plated Herrera if he had been safe. It’s the little things that win these games, and that was a big little thing.

deGrominant again.

Whatever was ailing Jake in his arm and hip is clearly a thing of the past.

He was magnificent once again tonight, shutting out Philadelphia for seven innings with an electric fastball primarily down but tailing up when he wanted it two, and painting the black with his tight slider, particularly away from the right-handed hitters. At one point early he had struck out five in the process of retiring 11 straight batters, and it was that point it was clear the Mets just needed a couple of runs and that would be enough.

Right now, deGrom looks as good as he has in the 12 1/2 months he has been here. It’s so impressive considering he struggled so much at the end of April and in early May, but went back to the drawing board, made the adjustments and worked through both his mechanical issues and the minor dings and dents he had experienced.

He’s a special talent – I am glad he is on our side.

Good overall game for Michael Cuddyer.

Yes, Cuddyer fanned in a big spot with runners at second and third and nobody out in the eighth inning, but he had a good game overall and has started to come on lately.

He’s hitting .300 over his last 11 games and he. A me through with a big two-out hit tonight in the third inning. It had really been a struggle for him through the first five or six weeks of the year, but thank goodness he has started to put his season on track.

He still looks a little out in front which suggests he’s cheating a bit and trying to do too much, but he’s a good player and understands what he needs to do to get it in gear, and he’s doing that at the right time.

What happened in the eighth inning?

Terry Collins let Jacob deGrom start the eighth inning, which might not have been the best decision in the world given his pitch count. He proceeded to allow the first to hitters to reach. But, with left-handers coming up, Collins decided to use Hansel Robles, who immediately gave up a two-run triple to Ben Revere. Philadelphia tied the game on a single by the left-handed hitting Freddy Galvis.

Then, between Alex Torres and Carlos Torres, the floodgates opened and the Phillies took the lead thanks to five straight hits.

I know Robles had held lefties to 1-for-14 coming into play, but that’s just a perplexing call with two left-handed relievers available in the bullpen. It would seem more logical to use Robles to start the inning, but not against left-handed hitters with runners on-base.

To me, that’s not getting beat with the best players on the field, which is always aggravating. Sure, if these guys pitch better, perhaps this discussion doesn’t take place. But, if Collins maneuvers properly and the bullpen gets shelled, what can you do?

But dude, don’t beat yourself.

Wilmer Flores drove in the game tying run with a sac fly in the eight, and the game winner with a tenth inning, two-out single. It’s his second game winning RBI in as many games. He has five RBI already in this series.

Plawecki snapped out of a 1-for-13 skid with a 2-for-4 night at the plate.

Juan Lagares went 1-for-4 at the plate tonight – he is 11-for-65 since May 5, the day he collided with Cuddyer and injured his rib/armpit.

Jeurys Familia worked two innings for the first time this season – he allowed two walks and struck out two while throwing 32 pitches.

The Mets are now 2-0 in extra-inning games this season.