Mets vs Phillies Recap: So this is what joy feels like!

Until the bottom of the ninth inning tonight, it looked as if the Mets were going to drop another close game, devoid of offense. But then something miraculous happened: the bats woke up, and the Mets came back to win, 3-1 against the Phillies.

Jake Arrieta started for the Phillies, who the Mets were facing for the first time since he signed with Philadelphia. In the top of the first inning, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a double to right field in the second at-bat of the game. He was stranded on second base, a theme that would continue throughout the night.

The first - and only - run of the game for the Phillies came in the bottom of the first, when Odubel Herrera blasted a solo home run off a Steven Matz curveball. While he didn’t give up another run in his five innings of work, the theme of Matz struggling with his breaking pitch would continue through the night.

Matz walked four, gave up five hits, and struck out three across 95 pitches and five innings. While only his change-up was really working, Matz did a nice job of keeping his team in the game. While it would’ve been helpful to go an additional inning or two, Matz has now put together three games this season with one or no earned runs, including two in a row.

In the top of the seventh, with two outs, pinch hitter Jose Reyes stroked a single to left center field. Next up was Amed Rosario, but he was pulled for pinch hitter Dominic Smith, making his 2018 debut. Smith didn’t even get to finish the plate appearance, however, as Reyes was picked off on Arietta’s third throw over to first. It was the low point of what was an overall disappointing game.

Arrieta went seven and a third innings, before giving way to Tommy Hunter, who finished out the eighth inning. Arrieta struck out five, walked two, and gave up five hits.

As has seemed to be the case as of late, Seth Lugo and Paul Sewald both threw quality innings out of the bullpen. What was more surprising was that AJ Ramos pitched a perfect eighth inning.

What was more surprising still was the fact that the Mets came back to win the game! With one out in the top of the ninth, Wilmer Flores cracked a single through between short and third against Hector Neris. Luis Guillorme made his major league debut pinch running for Flores. One batter later, after getting just out in front of a pitch and yanking it to the right of the foul pole, Michael Conforto hit a two-run home run to put the Mets up 2-1.

One batter later, Devin Mesoraco got his first hit as a Met in the form of a solo home run, which gave the Mets an insurance run and gave Neris an even more deafening chorus of boos.

Jeurys Familia closed the game out with a perfect ninth inning, giving the Mets a much-needed win, as well as the first win for Mesoraco in a game he played in since August of last year. The ninth also featured Guillorme’s professional - not major league, professional - appearance at third base. It was that kind of fun ninth inning, which felt even more fun after the first eight innings felt so lifeless.

Tomorrow, Noah Syndergaard faces off against Zach Eflin at 7:05pm. Can the Mets win two in a row? Tune in and find out!

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Win Probability Added

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What’s WPA?

Big winners: Michael Conforto +71.9% WPA, Steven Matz +13.3% WPA
Big losers: Adrian Gonzalez, -13.5% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Michael Conforto’s ninth inning home run, +64.3% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Odubel Herrera’s first inning home run, -10.2% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: 35.3% WPA
Total batter WPA: 14.7% WPA
GWRBI!: Michael Conforto