Mets clinch playoff spot, will host National League wild card game
PHILADELPHIA — Some wore goggles while others welcomed the burning sensation amid a shower of champagne and beer at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday afternoon.
At times, this moment of euphoria seemed inevitable for the New York Mets, but as recently as late August, it seemed the deck had been rigged against them in their quest to return to the playoffs.
A loaded roster in spring training spawned hope of back-to-back division titles before an onslaught of injuries cast doubts that New York would even have the chance to defend its NL crown.
Sitting with a 60-62 record Aug. 20, the Mets faced the reality that now or never, a run would have to begin.
Six weeks later, they emerged from that gauntlet as survivors – with a few more bruises to the roster – and will now host either the Giants or Cardinals on Wednesday in the wild-card game.
MLB SALARIES: Baseball's top 25 highest-paid players in 2024
“If you’re going to play in our town, you’d better have heart and you better have character,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “You’re gonna get knocked down and you better be able to get back up.”
The Mets are playoff-bound for the second straight year for just the second time in franchise history after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-3.
They overcame a 5½-game wild-card deficit claiming the top spot as James Loney’s two-run homer in the sixth broke a 2-2 tie and gave New York the lead for good.
“With the talent we have, one thing, we never give up,” third baseman Jose Reyes said. “All the credit has to go to Terry to keep this team together. After all the injuries, what happened to us, we are still in this situation. This is unbelievable. We never doubted with the talent we had in this locker room.”
While the Mets cruised to a division title last year en route to the World Series, this year’s team persevered through adversity and injuries to enjoy its champagne celebration.
Their elite pitching staff made them the preseason favorite, but just two of the five members of the opening-day rotation made it through the year. Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Jacob deGrom all would become sidelined; deGrom celebrated with his surgically repaired right elbow wrapped in cellophane.
The offense started the year stocked with powerful bats, but seven regulars spent time on the disabled list. David Wright was lost for the season in June, and Neil Walker in August..
Those injuries seemed to be catching up with the team when it fell two games below .500 after a loss Aug. 19, but an MLB-best 27-12 run since then vaulted the Mets past four teams.
“It’s great to see the team accomplish as much as it did,” general manager Sandy Alderson said, “with as many obstacles placed in its path as it had to negotiate.”
The Mets needed production from journeymen and rookies alike to make their surge. A rookie (Robert Gsellman) recorded the pitching win Friday, while a veteran, Loney, had the biggest hit Saturday.
Loney arrived in a trade in May after Lucas Duda landed on the disabled list with a lower-back stress fracture. He cracked a two-out, two-run homer off David Hernandez for a 4-2 lead. Loney raised his arms while still holding the bat and turned to look at his team before rounding the bases.
Five relievers recorded the last 12 outs, and Michael Conforto’s sliding catch in left field ended the game and initiated a mobbing near the mound. Players and personnel later came onto the field to celebrate with the large contingent of Mets fans in Philadelphia.
This ride to a playoff berth may have been bumpier than the Mets would have liked and resulted in more doctor visits than they envisioned, but they’ve arrived at their destination.
Now they have a chance to defend their pennant.
“Obviously, you look in August and think, ‘How are we possibly going to accomplish this with young guys and guys who are banged up?’Ÿ” Collins said. “We still managed to do it.”
Ehalt writes for the Bergen County Record, part of the USA TODAY Network
GALLERY: TEAMS CELEBRATING A POSTSEASON BERTH
