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 "I didn't anticipate that," Flores said.
Neither Flores, nor anyone in a Mets uniform, nor even the greatest
scriptwriter in Hollywood could have anticipated how Flores' night
would end.
Flores, who wept on the field Wednesday night because he thought he
was about to be traded, capped a whirlwind week for him and a
potentially season-defining day for the Mets by hitting a leadoff
homer in the 12th inning to lift New York to a 2-1 win over the
Nationals in front of a frenzied crowd of 36,164 at Citi Field.
"I'm sitting here looking at some guys who are outstanding writers,"
Mets manager Terry Collins said afterward. "You couldn't write that.
You guys couldn't come up with that. And you're good. That's
unbelievable."
The homer to left-center field by Flores ended a marathon pitcher's
duel in the opener of a three-game series and pulled the Mets
(53-50) within two games of the Nationals (54-47) in the National
League East.
"Can it happen at a better time to a better person in a bigger
situation than that?" Collins said. "We are all so thrilled for him.
It's unbelievable."
The trade that would have sent Flores, along with injured
right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler, to the Milwaukee Brewers in
exchange for center fielder Carlos Gomez fell apart at the last
second late Wednesday night, but not after news about it trickled
out and everyone in the Mets dugout and in the stands thought Flores
was getting traded.
Flores continued to play in the game Wednesday because Collins
hadn't been informed of the impending trade. Television cameras
captured the 23-year-old, who signed with the Mets as a 16-year-old
out of Venezuela, crying at shortstop in the eighth inning.
"Two days ago, a lot of phone calls and a lot going on," Flores
said.
Flores' emotional reaction endeared him to Mets fans, who loudly
applauded his name when it was read with the rest of the starting
lineup. He got another warm ovation when he stepped to the plate for
the first time in the second inning.
"What they did for Wilmer Flores, you're not going to find in a lot
of places," Collins said. "That is the most respectful way to handle
a situation that these fans can possibly come up with."
Flores accounted for the Mets' first run with an RBI single in the
fourth. A trio of Mets right-handed pitchers - Jeurys Familia,
Hansel Robles and winning pitcher Carlos Torres - retired 11
straight between the ninth and 12th, including the last five by
strikeout, before Flores hit a 1-1 pitch from right-hander Felipe
Rivero (1-1) over the left-center field wall.
"Words can't really describe what has been going through his head
and us as a team the last couple days," said right-handed pitcher
Matt Harvey, who retired the first 16 batters he faced and allowed
one run and five hits while walking none and striking out nine in
eight innings.
"Everything that has happened to him is pretty incredible. And for
tonight to happen the way it did, it's pretty unreal."
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Flores' expression didn't change much as he rounded the bases, but
he broke into a wide grin upon nearing home plate and flinging his
helmet in the air before he was mobbed by teammates.
"Great feeling," a still-smiling Flores said afterward. "Game over.
We won. Let's cheer."
After Flores touched home plate, the scoreboard, which flashed
multiple promotions touting Cespedes' arrival and fireworks night on
Saturday, flashed the words GO WITH THE FLO. On this night, the Mets
were sure glad they did.
"As the game went on, we said one thing: There's one guy we're not
going to hit for tonight," Collins said with a laugh. "Wilmer
Flores."
For the Nationals, Escobar had an RBI single in the eighth when
Washington built a two-out rally against Harvey via a hit batsman
and two singles.
"It's one game," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "It could
have been a 3-1 game in nine (innings). It counts the same."
A trio of Nationals relievers -- Rivero as well as right-handers
Tanner Roark, Aaron Barrett and Rivero -- had to account for 6 1/3
innings after left-hander Gio Gonzalez lasted just 4 2/3 innings.
Gonzalez allowed one run, four hits and four walks while striking
out six in his second shortest start of the season.
"We extended guys in the bullpen," Williams said. "See if we can
make an adjustment on that tomorrow."
NOTES: The Mets will have OF Yoenis Cespedes in uniform for
Saturday's game. Cespedes was in Baltimore with the Detroit Tigers
but couldn't get to Queens in time to play Friday because the trade
wasn't completed until just before the 4 p.m. deadline. ... Cespedes
will continue to wear No. 52 for the Mets. RHP Carlos Torres, who
wore No. 52, will switch to No. 72. ... After Thursday's game, the
Mets made room for C Travis d'Arnaud by optioning C Anthony Recker
to Triple-A Las Vegas. ... Nationals RF Bryce Harper went 0-for-5
and was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Jerry Meals after
an 11th-inning strikeout. ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (left
oblique strain) is expected to make his final rehab start for
Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.
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