BIRD IN THE HAND
Conforto’s incredible catch, four Met HRs lead Amazin’s to comeback victory over O’s
All year long the Mets talked about their sense of urgency, the fight that does not end and the team that is just too good to miss the playoffs.
While some players – aware of the clock – admitted time was running out, their rookie manager stood firm: the Mets have a great chance, still.
Who better to lead by example than the outfielder that bloomed at just the right time?
Michael Conforto, with the Mets trailing by one run, made a highlight-reel play in the sixth inning that saved three runs from scoring. The leaping catch gave the Mets a chance to go ahead later, and Pete Alonso pounced on the opportunity with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Mets to a 7-6 win over the Orioles at Citi Field on Wednesday.
“That was the best play I’ve seen him make in his outfield career,” said Luis Rojas of Conforto’s catch. “Clutch for us. That was the one play that kept us in the game.”
The Mets hit four homers in the win but Conforto’s gem was the difference.
Jared Hughes loaded the bases with a walk and two hit batters before Justin Wilson came in to replace him. Rio Ruiz ripped a line drive to deep right field on Wilson’s second pitch. Conforto sprinted toward the right-field warning track and made an overthe-shoulder catch to end the inning. Wilson lifted his arms in the air in disbelief. Dominic Smith ran toward Conforto and wrapped his arms around his shoulders.
Statcast gave the ball a 20% chance of being caught off the bat. Conforto covered 72 feet in 4.9 seconds to make the play.
“That was definitely a play where I surprised myself,” Conforto said. “I got a good line on it, I broke, I was able to find the wall before I made my jump. The bullpen was yelling that I had room. In that situation you just got to go up for it and luckily my glove was just long enough, and I came down with it.”
Andres Gimenez crushed a game-tying solo shot to left field in the sixth to complete the comeback from 5-1 down. Then, Alonso launched the go-ahead, teamleading 11th home run of the season in the eighth as the Mets stormed ahead.
Edwin Diaz, wearing No. 21 for his idol Roberto Clemente, earned his third save of the year.
Conforto also homered for the Mets, as did Jeff McNeil. The offense erupted for 10 hits, with seven of them coming in the fourth inning or later.
“The catch that Mike made was in my mind, a complete momentum changer,” said Rick Porcello, who was charged with five earned runs on 10 hits in just four innings Wednesday. Porcello raised his season ERA to 6.07 following his ninth start of the season.
“It’s an interesting year just because you’re so personal with your teammates,” Conforto said. “There’s no fans. I can hear the guys in the bullpen, I hear the guys sitting in the dugout, guys running down from under the tunnel. It’s a cool feeling. There was a lot of excitement from those guys.”
The Mets (20-24) improved to four games under .500 as their final push for the postseason reached a potential turning point following Wednesday’s win. The Amazin’s are two games back of a wild-card spot with the Brewers, Rockies and Giants standing between their chance to play October baseball for just the sixth time in the past 31 years. But if they pull it off, they’ll have that Conforto catch to thank.
“Mike’s the silky elk,” Alonso said. “He surprises everybody. Seeing him make that play, that was just nothing short of special.”