Mets Win 4-3 on Jesse Winker’s Walk-Off Homer
OMG! The Mets win on a walk-off!
After a dismal day on Tuesday that saw the Mets drop game two to the Orioles 9-5 on a night when Jose Quintana gave up seven earned runs, and the Mets also committed a pair of errors, the Mets needed to turn the page. Wednesday was the rubber match between the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles (74-53 going into Wednesday’s matchup) and the New York Mets (65-61 ahead of Wednesday).
The Mets, indeed, did turn the page. After a back-and-forth game, on his first home run as a Met, Jesse Winker came through in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off home run to defeat Baltimore 4-3.
“I love this shit,” quoted Winker after the game in front of a “lit” crowd as Winker described it. It was the biggest hit for Winker as a Met to date and came at a clutch time when the Mets needed it the most.
On the mound to start Wednesday’s matchup, it was left-handed pitcher Cole Irvin (6-5, 4.85 ERA) for the visiting Orioles against Sean Manaea (9-5, 3.46 ERA) for the Mets, who sit 8 ½ games behind the divisional-leading Phillies in the National League East and 2 ½ games back of a wild card spot.
Manaea dominated overall on Wednesday. He took a perfect game into the sixth before things got shaky. He hit Jackson Holliday with a pitch with two outs and then gave up a two-run home run to Austin Slater on the very next pitch that tied the game 2-2 and ended the no-hit bid. But before that, the left-handed Manaea dominated.
He went on to pitch the seventh, giving up just one hit in the inning to close out his afternoon. He gave up an infield single to the only batter he faced in the eighth inning. His day ended with three earned runs given up on just three hits (including the home run to Slater in the sixth) and striking out nine. His ERA after Wednesday is now 3.48 on the season.
Offensively, Winker gave the Mets the win and came away as Wednesday’s player of the game, but Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, and J.D. Martinez were offensive leaders on Wednesday as well.
Lindor was 2-for-4 with a third-inning solo home run off Irvin, giving the Mets an early 1-0 lead over the Orioles. With that, he became the only shortstop in MLB history to record three seasons with 25+ stolen bases and 25+ home runs. He is also now just one of four hitters this season with at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Vientos was also 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the seventh that re-gave the Mets the lead after the rough sixth inning for Manaea. It was Vientos’ 20th home run of the season and gave the Mets’ offense their spark back to keep fighting, showing the heart and determination of the club to never give up.
Martinez also contributed with an RBI in the bottom of the fifth.
With their 4-3 win, the Mets take the series from Baltimore and will have a much more exciting plane ride to California. They will leave the East Coast on a high note and head to the West Coast with some much-needed momentum!
Jesse Winker. Photo by Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Player of the Game
With his first home run as a Met and the walk-off home run that gave the Mets their win on the day, Jesse Winker walks away as today’s player of the game! It was the first pinch-hit walk-off homer for the Mets since Amed Rosario in 2020 against the Yankees.
On Deck
The Mets will head back to the West Coast on Thursday, where they will open a four-game series against the San Diego Padres. Luis Severino gets the start in game one, coming off a complete game shutout.
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