The New York Mets were on the brink of another loss, with their season likely headed into a tailspin. Yes, it’s early, but the Mets haven’t won a series in nearly a month. And on Wednesday evening, it was looking like the Mets would go their eighth consecutive series without a win against the Tampa Bay Rays. Until they didn’t.
The Mets got knocked down on the mat by the best team in the majors, but they kept getting back up.
Down 7-5 in the bottom of the 10th inning, Mets slugger Pete Alonso hit a mammoth three-run shot to give New York its first walk-off win of the season. It was the third time on Wednesday that the Mets erased a deficit. Mark Vientos had a game-tying tw0-run home run in the seventh inning and Francisco Álvarez had a game-tying three-run blast in the bottom of the ninth to send Wednesday’s contest to extras.
Pete Alonso crushes a walk-off 3-run homer to give the Mets an 8-7 win over the Rays! ⚾️💣🐻❄️pic.twitter.com/bcaPfVGU7e
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 18, 2023
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, those were the first runs that Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks has given up since last July. Making Wednesday’s win even more improbable.
Prior to Tuesday’s 8-5 loss against the Rays, the Mets had gone 56 consecutive innings without a home run. Alonso hit one on Tuesday and a day later, he followed that up with a timely home run when the Mets so desperately needed one. Energized by their young prospects, with Vientos making his season debut, the Mets finally found the power surge they’ve been missing from their offense.
That wasn’t the only thing energized by Wednesday night’s come-from-behind-win. It breathed life into a fanbase that has been so down in the dumps due to an underwhelming start. And judging by the reactions on social media, those in the baseball world, particularly Mets fans, were absolutely pumped.
By far the biggest win of the season for these New York Mets. Much needed in a stretch with so many guys struggling.
Huge swings from Mark Vientos, Francisco Álvarez and Pete Alonso. Man, it feels good to see this team come up with the big hits. More of this please. https://t.co/spM8CkdtXD
— Christian De Block (@ChristianDB122) May 18, 2023
That game was like a classic boxing match. It’s hard to imagine a more exciting game. We needed that win
— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) May 18, 2023
The beauty of baseball:
Pete Alonso has been in an awful slump. He hit into a double play in the first. People have been down on him.
Then he plays hero with an absolute bomb to win it.
This game will humble you. But it will also reward you if you keep the faith.#LGM #LFGM
— Matthew Searle (@searlebaseball) May 18, 2023
You want a signature game to change the momentum of this season for the Mets? I would say it delivered.
— Jerry Blevins (@jerryblevins) May 18, 2023
That was absolutely the win of the season. One that can absolutely get this team going
That was 2022 Mets-like. Coming back from three different deficits
How does 112.3 MPH and 416 to walk it off by Pete Alonso sound?pic.twitter.com/poo6cBmo77
— Joe DeMayo (@PSLToFlushing) May 18, 2023
insane pic.twitter.com/Xy5BKGVkT1
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 18, 2023
Wow that's a great win for the Mets. A reminder that the last 3 full season National League champions have all had slow starts. Don't give up, folks.
— Wayne Randazzo (@WayneRandazzo) May 18, 2023
Pete. Alonso. ONIONS. An absolute BOMB. #Mets win this crazy thing.
— Joe Pantorno (@JoePantorno) May 18, 2023
Alonso was also notably pumped up by the win, accidentally dropping an f-bomb in a postgame interview with SNY.
Now, the Mets have a chance to win a series against Major League Baseball’s best team. Perhaps they can use Wednesday’s win as a building block that can get their season back on track. It’s still just May, but a win like this could provide a jolt to a team that was supposed to be a World Series contender.
