Wilmer heroics an Amazin’ blast from 2015 past
THE last time — the only other time — Wilmer Flores had clubbed a walk-off home run came on that unforgettable July 30 night two years ago against the Nationals in the wake of his tearful near-trade to the Brewers.
This time, when he hit one into the first row of the lower left-field stands against Oakland righthander Simon Castro in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday to give the Mets a stirring 6-5 victory in game they had trailed 5-0 in the third, it is another trade season.
“As a hitter, you don’t want to try to do too much in that situation but you want to do something,” said Flores, who turned on a 1-0 fastball. “You have to try and control that.”
Flores has no control over personnel decisions, but this time around, while up to a half-dozen of his teammates may be sent elsewhere before the next homestand commences on Aug. 4, Flores is not expected to be involved in the festivities.
For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, Flores is a Met, just as he has been since signing with the organization as an international free agent when he celebrated his 16th birthday on Aug. 6, 2007.
“You get used to one place, obviously you don’t want to leave,” Flores said while wearing the ceremonial crown and robe awarded to the team’s hero of the day. “All my friends are here. I want to stay.”
Lucas Duda may be going and so, too, Asdrubal Cabrera. Jay Bruce, who socked his 25th home run to ignite a four-run rally in the sixth that started the Mets on the way back, could be on his way out. The same for Addison Reed.
But when the dust settles following this July 31 non-waivers deadline, Flores still will be wearing the Met uniform general manager Sandy Alderson had intended to rip off his chest two years ago in the aborted trade for Carlos Gomez that also included Zack Wheeler.
Flores may be playing first base, he may be at second base, third base or providing a bat off the bench, as he did on Thursday when he hit a game-tying, eighthinning pinch-hit home run against the Cardinals in a game the Mets would win in the ninth on Jose Reyes’ infield hit.
But he will be part of it as the Mets seek to make an unlikely run even while they likely are to be disassembled. The Yankees of 2016, among other teams, proved there can be life after being sellers at the deadline.
Flores was at second base in this one while Cabrera started at third base for the first time in his major league career. It marked the fourth start in 17 games for Flores, who entered with just 18 at-bats since July 1. Yet, he delivered with a 2for-5 performance that included a double to lead off the sixth.
“It’s his work ethic,” manager Terry Collins said. “Last year when he primarily played sporadically, he learned how to keep himself ready. It’s a tough job when you’re used to playing every day.”
The Mets have won four straight games to climb within five games of .500 at 45-50. But they are still 10 games behind the Rockies for the second wild-card spot and with five teams over which to leapfrog in order to secure a playoff spot.
“You’re not thinking about how many games out you are,” said Flores, slashing .284/.312/.473 with nine homers and 28 RBI in 222 at-bats. “You think about how to win. Every time you go onto the field, you get ready to win the game that day.
“What’s in the past is in the past.”
The past, of course, includes 2015, for which his team is celebrated for winning the NL pennant and he is celebrated for the tears he shed when he thought he was gone, every bit as much as for his on-field accomplishments.
If it is a stretch to call Flores, “beloved,” it is probably not by much.
“I wasn’t thinking about that,” he said when asked if he had flashbacks to the Washington game while rounding the bases. “But it was the same feeling.”
Deja blue-and-orange all over again.