It took 10 innings, but the Mets came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Braves when Carlos Beltran walked with the bases loaded. It was the first game in 13 attempts that the Mets won this year when trailing in the eighth inning.
Beltran was the hero of the night when he hit a double in the ninth inning. The Mets got away with one when he stole third and looked to be tagged out, but was called safe. He then scored after Luis Castillo got a pinch-hit sacrifice fly. That tied the game 3-3. Beltran finished the game 2-for-4 with a walk.
Starter Mike Pelfrey pitched very well, allowing only two runs in seven innings. He had thrown fewer than 100 pitches, but Jerry Manuel opted to call in JJ Putz, who then gave up a run. With the Mets trailing 3-2, Francisco Rodriguez came in to pitch the ninth. After the Mets tied it, he then pitched the 10th inning. It was his first two-inning performance in the Majors since 2007. K-Rod ended up with the win.
David Wright and Jose Reyes each had two hits. Mets fans everywhere probably let out a groan when Reyes tried to stretch a double into a triple and was thrown out easily. He did plate two runs with that double. Both Jeremy Reed and Alex Cora continued to contribute. Cora, who was playing second base, was 1-for-3 with two walks. He then switched to first base in the 10th inning. Reed, who was playing right field tonight, also was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
It was great to see the Mets with the heart and fortitude to bounce back. It was the kind of game the old Mets probably would have lost. There was some of that fire that general manager Omar Minaya said was missing from the team.
The Mets have an afternoon game Wednesday as Jonathon Niese takes the mound, which makes tonight’s win all the more important.