Lindor’s Ninth-Inning Heroics Lead Mets Past Rockies

After sweeping the Rockies last weekend in New York, the Mets traveled from Los Angeles, where they took two of four from the Dodgers, to the Mile High City for another series against Colorado.

Right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.59 ERA, 65 SO) was back on the mound for the Mets. The Rockies, on the other hand, used an opener in left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison (0-0, 4.09 ERA, 9 SO) before turning to right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela (1-10, 6.68 ERA, 33 SO).

Tonight’s game was one in which the Mets’ offense didn’t really get going until the seventh, but once they did, it became an exciting matchup that came down to the bitter end. After the two clubs went back and forth in the later innings, the Mets took the lead in the ninth on a pinch-hit double by Francisco Lindor that scored the last two runs of the game and led them to a 4-2 win.

The Mets’ offense struck for ten hits against the Rockies. Starling Marte had two hits and a run scored; Juan Soto stayed hot as his bat continued to come to life with a 3-for-4 day and a walk; Pete Alonso had a hit, two RBIs and a run scored; Jeff McNeil, Lindor, Francisco Alvarez and Ronny Mauricio also had hits on the night.

Senga was sluggish to start, but eventually settled in to throw a strong quality outing.

After retiring the Rockies in order in the first two innings, Senga ran into trouble in the third as Colorado took an early lead. With one out, Mickey Moniak hit a solo home run to right field that put the Rockies ahead 1-0. A double by Tyler Freeman and a walk to Jordan Beck quickly put two runners on, but Senga worked out of trouble by getting Thairo Estrada to ground into a double play.

Senga labored through the fifth inning as well, giving up a leadoff triple to Ryan Ritter, who was making his major league debut for Colorado. After Moniak reached on a fielder’s choice that led to Ritter being thrown out by Alonso at home, Senga walked Freeman to put two on. After a mound visit, Senga got out of the inning and did not allow the Rockies to extend their lead beyond 1-0.

The Mets had a chance to tie the game or take the lead in the top of the sixth, but as they have many times this season, they failed to produce with runners in scoring position. They had the bases loaded with no outs, but Brett Baty, Alvarez and Mauricio struck out in order, leaving all three runners stranded as the Rockies held their lead.

But, in the top of the seventh, the Mets finally broke through and took their first lead of the day. Their momentum got kickstarted as Marte reached for the second time in the game. Soto then followed suit with his second hit of the day to put two on for Alonso, who came up clutch with a loud line drive to left field that scored both runners and gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.

That was all for the Mets in the frame, though, as Tyler Kinley came out of the bullpen and retired both McNeil and Tyrone Taylor to end the inning.

Huascar Brazobán (3-1, 1.72 ERA, 37 SO) took the mound for the Mets in the bottom of the seventh. Senga finished his day with one earned run given up on five hits and two walks while striking out three to lower his ERA to 1.59 on the season.

With Brazobán on the mound, the Rockies tied the game right back up. Sam Hilliard hit a one-out triple that was followed by an RBI single from Moniak to make it a 2-2 game.

In what became a game of pinball, the Mets regained the lead once again in the top of the ninth in exciting fashion! After Soto reached in his first three-hit game as a Met, Alonso walked to put two on. With two outs, the Mets turned to Lindor, who came in to pinch-hit for Taylor, and he delivered with a two-run double to give the Mets the 4-2 lead!

That was all the Mets needed, as Edwin Díaz came in to shut it down with a scoreless frame in the bottom of the ninth to secure his 14th save of the year and New York’s fourth victory in as many tries vs. Colorado.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

The honors go to Lindor for his off-the bench, pinch-hit double that gave the Mets the go-ahead runs in the ninth. With a broken toe and all, Lindor was there for his team to help lead them to the win.

ON DECK

The Mets and Rockies continue their series on Saturday night at 9:40 PM EST. It will be right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (6-3, 3.07 ERA, 59 SO) taking the mound for the Mets against Rockies left-handed pitcher Carson Palmquist (0-4, 8.50 ERA, 14 SO).

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