J.D.’s grand slam fuels offensive explosion in third
It was something that didn’t feel like it was going to end.
After the Braves took the early lead on a two-run home run by Adam Duvall in the second inning, the Mets put on a show in the third, scoring seven runs on three homers.
The explosive inning propelled the Mets to a crucial 8-4 win over their NL East rival to bump them into the No. 2 spot in the division and the top wild-card spot. “Electric crowd. Huge [third] inning there, so many really good at bats,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Tyrone Taylor reached base on an error by Braves third baseman Austin Riley to start the inning. Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo followed with walks to perfectly set up slumping J.D. Martinez for a grand slam.
Off of a 3-1 fastball, Martinez’s opposite-field blast went 366 feet and sent the Citi Field crowd into a frenzy.
“I think the guys did a great job just not chasing him [Braves starter Charlie Morton] around the zone and getting him in the zone,” Martinez said after the win. “Obviously, walked some guys and got some guys on base. Kind of a collective team effort. Everyone just making sure they weren’t chasing around.”
After Martinez, who had gone 6-for-37 in the 10 games before Friday, Jeff McNeil hit a double and was quickly brought home by Mark Vientos’ two-run homer to left field.
Two batters later, Francisco Alvarez hit a solo shot to give the Mets a commanding 7-2 lead.
“Just being a part of that game was awesome,” Vientos said. “Being a part of this clubhouse is special. It’s a blessing. Every day I come here and it’s amazing.
I’m excited, for sure.”
The inning will be what the Mets have to look back on to keep spirits up, as the win turned into a bittersweet one after Kodai Senga went down with a left calf strain in the top of the sixth inning in his season debut.
Mendoza, however, wasn’t worried about how his team would handle the news.
“They’ll be fine,” he said. “We continue to play hard. We continue to add on, put pressure. We’ve been through a lot. Guys will step up and show up tomorrow ready to go.”