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 Shortstop Wilmer Flores' two-out RBI single Monday night capped a
stunning 11th inning comeback by the Mets, who snapped the Toronto
Blue Jays' 11-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory at Citi Field.
It was the third comeback win and second of the walk-off variety for
the Mets on a homestand that began last Tuesday with San Francisco
Giants right-hander Chris Heston no-hitting New York in a 5-0 win.
"How did it start? Who did we even start (against)?" asked left
fielder Michael Cuddyer, who scored the tying run in the 11th.
Reminded of the no-hitter, Cuddyer laughed.
"Oh that's right," Cuddyer said. "Put that out of my mind. That
right there speaks to the resiliency -- and I'm not blowing smoke up
your butt, I really didn't remember. We talked about it that night,
baseball players having to have a short memory."
Six days later, the Mets are assured of having no worse than a .500
record on the eight-game homestand. Cuddyer's ninth-inning RBI
single on Thursday capped a pair of comebacks and allowed New York
to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Giants with a 5-4 win.
On Sunday, the Mets trailed 8-3 in the fourth before knocking off
the Atlanta Braves, 10-8.
On Monday, the Mets squandered a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning when
Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista hit a leadoff solo homer. They
fell behind 3-2 in the top of the 11th on a sacrifice fly by catcher
Dioner Navarro.
"They're huge wins, especially when you fall behind like we did,"
Mets manager Terry Collins said. "This is like three games this
homestand we've come out of nowhere to win games. It just builds
tremendous confidence in the clubhouse that it can be done."
The winning rally began when third baseman Ruben Tejada worked a
one-out walk against Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil (1-3).
Cuddyer followed with a slow roller to second, and Tejada remained
in the basepath long enough so that Danny Valencia only had enough
time to tag him.
First baseman Lucas Duda then worked the count full against Cecil
before lofting a single to shallow left. Cuddyer ran around third as
Ezequiel Carrera, playing deep in left field against the powerful
Duda, raced in for the ball.
But his throw was cut off by third baseman Josh Donaldson, who
bobbled it as Cuddyer slid in with the tying run.
"When you're in that situation, 3-2, two outs, you just bust it
until you have to stop," Cuddyer said. "Fortunately, didn't have to
stop."
Flores then hit reliever Liam Hendriks' first pitch sharply up the
middle for his second walk-off hit of the season and the third of
his career.
"We're not giving up," Flores said. "I think that's what good teams
do."
The comeback made a winner of right-hander Hansel Robles (1-1) and
ensured the Mets would finish the homestand in first place in the NL
East. New York moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Washington Nationals
by virtue of the Nationals' 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
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Bautista had two homers for the Blue Jays (34-31), who were trying
to set a franchise record with a 12th straight win, Toronto also won
11 in a row in 1987, 1998 and 2013.
"I'm proud of these guys -- it's tough to do 11 in a row," Blue Jays
manager John Gibbons said, "It's a tough one because it was right
there and you have the lead but it didn't happen."
Both starters pitched well in a no-decision.
Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard, who was drafted by the Blue Jays
in 2010 and signed with them exactly five years ago Monday, allowed
one run on two hits and two walks while striking out a career-high
11 over six innings. He retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced,
including 10 by strikeout.
Blue Jays left-handed starter Mark Buehrle gave up two runs (one
earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out five over seven
innings.
Buehrle was working on a one-hit shutout until the sixth, when
Syndergaard helped create the Mets' two-run rally. After catcher
Kevin Plawecki led off by reaching on a throwing error by shortstop
Jose Reyes, Syndergaard laid down a perfect bunt and center fielder
Juan Lagares and Tejada hit RBI doubles on consecutive pitches.
"It was a good run and hopefully we start another one tomorrow,"
Buehrle said.
NOTES: With their bullpen taxed from having thrown 9 1/3 innings the
previous two games, the Mets recalled RHP Akeel Morris from Class A
St. Lucie. In a corresponding move, RHP Dillon Gee was designated
for assignment. Gee started on Opening Day for the Mets in 2014 but
lost his rotation spot this year and gave up eight runs in 3 2/3
innings in a spot start Sunday. ... Mets general manager Sandy
Alderson said 2B Daniel Murphy (strained left quad) is on pace to
come off the disabled list Saturday. ... Blue Jays 2B Devon Travis
(left shoulder) began a rehab assignment Monday, when he went
0-for-3 with an RBI for Double-A New Hampshire. ... Blue Jays SS
Jose Reyes, who played his first nine big league seasons with the
Mets, went 0-for-5 as his 11-game hitting streak was snapped.
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