Don’t look now, but the New York Mets aren’t dead yet.
The Mets lost 15 games in the NL East seeding in June thanks to their 7-19 record and the Atlanta Braves’ 21-4 record that month, but July, albeit early, has been much better for the Amazons. .
The Mets were in their final blow against the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks and were in danger of going blank Wednesday night in Phoenix, but it was a rookie who kept them alive.
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Francisco Alvarez, #4 of the New York Mets, reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Chase Field on July 5, 2023 in Phoenix. The Mets won 2-1. (Norma Hall/Getty Images)
Francisco Álvarez hit a home run to the opposite field, his 15th of the season, to tie the game at one, but the Mets didn’t want to go into extra innings.
Fellow rookie Brett Baty singled after Alvarez’s home run, and then loyal veteran Mark Canha followed with an RBI triple that gave New York a 2-1 lead.
The Mets bullpen has been atrocious all season without Edwin Diaz, but they didn’t let him go. David Robertson, a lone bright spot in the Mets’ pen, relieved Kodai Senga after eight four-hit, 12-strikeout innings and shut down the Diamondbacks to clinch the win.
“It was super exciting. I did everything possible to celebrate that moment,” Alvarez said through a translator. “Earlier in that count, the umpire (Lance Barksdale) called a strike that he didn’t agree with. He had to keep fighting there.”
He added: “It’s really the adrenaline that heightens that moment for me. That’s my favorite part of the game. When that game is on the line, I’m not afraid of failure. I feel comfortable.”
It was the Mets’ fourth win in their last five games and they improved to 40-46.
It can be argued that the Mets are the most disappointing team not just this season, but perhaps of all time. They boast the highest payroll in North American sports history at $346 million with a rotation headlined by two future Hall of Famers in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, left, celebrates with teammate Brett Baty after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA Mandatory)
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Most everything went wrong for them, though: The two aces haven’t performed quite as well, defending NL batting champion Jeff McNeil is only hitting .256, and just about everyone else has taken a big step back from the start. 101-win season last year. .
However, the Mets are making up some ground and are now 6.5 games behind their division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, for the final wild card spot.
Mark Canha, #19 of the New York Mets, celebrates hitting an RBI triple as third base coach Joey Cora, #56, points to first base against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Chase Field on July 5 of 2023 in Phoenix. The Mets won 2-1. (Norma Hall/Getty Images)
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Sure, New York has some decisions to make with the trade deadline looming (they already traded Eduardo Escobar), but given the roster’s track record, they can still turn things around, and pretty quickly.
Associated Press contributed to this report.