OMG: Mets Dramatic Playoff Journey: From Lost Season to NLDS

by jdelpriore1, posted in baseball, New York Mets, SPORTS

So, on Monday, while at work, I checked my phone and saw that the New York Mets were losing 3-0 late in the game.

I thought to myself, “Here we go again. The Mets are going to lose to the Atlanta Braves again. Why, why, why?”

So, I arrive home and flick on the TV, just missing Brandon Nimmio’s two-run home run, making it 6-3 New York.

I tempered my excitement because I know how things can quickly turn on a dime. Lo and behold, the Braves came back and took a 7-6 lead.

However, with my nerves at an all-time high, shortstop Francisco Lindor stepped up and into the batter’s box with a runner on base. He proceeded to launch a ball to deep right-center field that just kept on carrying and carrying and carrying to the point that it cleared the fence and gave the Mets an 8-7 advantage. OMG, OMG!

With New York’s closer Edwin Diaz back on the mound after blowing the save in the previous inning, I barely moved, as I nervously clutched a pillow until he recorded the final out.

I let out a sigh of relief before erupting in a jubilant celebration, as the Mets made the playoffs as one of two National League Wild Card teams.

Every Mets fan knows how bad they were playing to start the season throughout April and most of May.

Therefore, it was just that much more special for us, a long-suffering fan base, for them to make the post-season.

Next up, on to Milwaukee for a best-of-three series with the Brewers.

New York wins the first contest, 8-4. Then, the Mets drop the second, making it 1-1 in the series.

Here comes Game 3, and I am volunteering with my girlfriend Maggie with her Catholic Youth Ministry in Chatham, New Jersey, called Saint Patrick’s Youth Ministry (SPYM).

I check my phone, and New York is losing 2-0, but Jose Quintana did keep the Mets in the game after tossing six scoreless innings before the team trailed Milwaukee.

That does not stop the pit in my stomach from forming…again. Perhaps I should get that checked out? But I digress.

I came home to watch the ending, never thinking how it would turn out.

Throughout it all, I thought to myself that first baseman Pete Alonso needs to come up huge for New York to win this game and the series.

Well, with runners on first and third, the Polar Bear cracks one to deep left field, and you can kiss that baby goodbye! He actually made that kissing motion with his hand as he rounded the bases. That was purely beautiful!

I quietly went crazy. OMG! The Mets surged ahead, 3-2. New York tacked on another run to widen its lead to 4-2.

Enter starting pitcher David Peterson for his first closing appearance of his MLB career. And he slams the door shut on the Brew Crew, with Lindor making an unassisted double play to end the tilt and send the Mets to the next round.

Mets win, Mets win!

Unbelievable. On to Philadelphia to take on our bitter rivals, the dreaded Phillies, Saturday for Game One of the National League Divisional Series.

#LGM

— Jerry Del Priore