Mets vs. Mariners Recap: Eighth-inning rally sinks Mariners

After dropping their last two games in San Diego, the Mets got back in the win column with a 7-5 victory in Seattle. The Mets found their way on the board quickly, as Jay Bruce hit his 27th home run, a two-run shot to plate Asdrubal Cabrera in the first inning. Montero struck out Jean Segura and Ben Gamel to open the home half of the inning before Robinson Cano flew out to end the frame.

Michael Conforto, playing in front of friends and family in his native state of Washington for the first time, had a big night at the plate, first by hitting a solo home run in the top of the third inning. Cabrera hit a single to follow up, and advanced to third base on a wild pitch from Ariel Miranda and a throwing error by Mike Zunino. Jay Bruce walked before Wilmer Flores drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Neil Walker struck out to end the inning.

Montero was cruising until this point, only allowing a home run to Zunino in the bottom of the third inning. He found himself in trouble during the fifth, when he loaded the bases with no outs. A wild pitch scored Mitch Haniger, and a sacrifice fly by Robinson Cano cut the Mets’ lead to 4-3. Edgin entered in relief of Montero, and allowed a two-run single to Kyle Seager to give the M’s a 5-4 lead. Hansel Robles entered to secure the last out of the inning, striking out Danny Valencia.

In the sixth inning, Robles allowed a single to Zunino and at first glance appeared to hit Jean Segura in the hand. Despite one of the better acting performances of 2017, the play was reviewed and it was determined that Robles had only hit the end of Segura’s bat. After returning to the plate, Segura hit a single, placing him right back on first base. Jerry Blevins entered the game and struck out Ben Gamel to retire the side.

Conforto, the hometown hero, led off a three-run rally in the eighth inning to put the Mets back in front. Conforto hit his second home run of the night, his 21st of the year, to tie the game at 5-5. Singles from Cabrera, Bruce, Walker, and Curtis Granderson led to two more runs to put the Mets ahead 7-5.

Paul Sewald entered in relief during the Mariners’ half of the eighth and promptly allowed two baserunners on a single from Valencia and hitting Haniger with a pitch . Jarrod Dyson executed a sacrifice bunt to push the runners over to second and third with just one out. Sewald struck out Zunino and coaxed a ground out from Segura to end the threat.

With Addison Reed on during the ninth, Gamel hit an infield single. In what may possibly be his last outing as a Met, Reed induced a double play from Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz flew out to end the game.

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What’s WPA?

Big winners: Michael Conforto +30.5% WPA
Big losers: Josh Edgin -27% WPA, Rafael Montero -14.6% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Michael Conforto 8th inning home run +25.8%
Teh sux0rest play: Wilmer Flores 8th inning fielder’s choice -6.8%
Total pitcher WPA: -12.7% WPA
Total batter WPA: +62.7% WPA
GWRBI!: Neil Walker 8th inning RBI single