The New York Mets are heading to the postseason after defeating the Atlanta Braves 8-7 in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader.
With their backs against the wall in the top of the ninth, Mets outfielder Starling Marte singled with one out before MVP candidate Francisco Lindor delivered a go-ahead two-run home run off Braves right-hander Pierce Johnson.
“We’re on a mission, and we understand what the goal is,” Lindor told SNY’s Steve Gelbs postgame. “But to get to where we want to be, we’ve got to do stuff like this, and it was a fun game.”
The contest was a seesaw battle.
The Mets stormed back from an early 3-0 deficit, scoring six runs in the top of the eighth inning. Brandon Nimmo capped the rally with a two-run home run off closer Raisel Iglesias.
The Braves answered back in the bottom of the eighth, Ozzie Albies topping the inning with a bases-clearing double off Mets closer Edwin Díaz to take a 7-6 lead.
Despite giving up the double to Albies in the eighth, Díaz remained in the game for the bottom of the ninth inning. He allowed a one-out single to Eli White, who proceeded to steal second base. Díaz then struck Ramón Laureano out before getting Travis d’Arnaud to ground out to end the game.
Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner initially told Díaz his day was done following the eighth inning, but the 30-year-old pleaded his case to manager Carlos Mendoza to put him back out for the ninth, The Athletic’s Tim Britton reports.
“I’m going back out. I don’t care what you say, I’m going back out,” Díaz said. “I got this shit.”
The Braves must win Game 2 of the doubleheader, or the Arizona Diamondbacks will secure the final National League wild-card spot.
