Remembering Mets History: (2016) Big Night As Mets Continued Playoff Persuit / Grandy Hits A Pair of HRs & Familia Ties Club Save Record

Tuesday -August 30th 2016: The previous night Yoenis Cespedes hit a dramatic walk off HR at Citi Field taking a page from his own book of a year ago. Cespedes helped the Mets take the first game of a big series with the Miami Marlins. The Mets were hot, winning eight of their last ten games, in the midst of a wild card race to the post season.

The team that had been struggling with injuries all year. They had lost their Captain- David Wright, one of their sluggers Lucas Duda pretty much the entire season & one of their; Matt Harvey for the year. As of late, pitcher Steven Matz & second baseman Neil Walker out as well.

On top of that,  Michael Conforto had struggled so much he was sent to the minor leagues. It's a different team than last years 2015 NL Champions, but some of the old faces are there as well. 

Terry Collins Mets (67-64) were hosting Don Mattingly's Miami Marlins (67-64) The two teams' were tied for second place, in the NL East & 2 1/2 games out of the wild card hunt. It was a big game. 

The injury ridden Mets staff had to send another young inexperienced pitcher to the mound. On Sunday, Robert Gsellman stepped up, Monday night it was Rafael Montero & tonight it was Seth Lugo.

Lugo started out with a shaky 1st inning,  allowing a two run HR to Christian Yelich. He eventually settled down, not allowing another run. He went six innings allowing those two runs on five hits, four strike outs & a walk.

The Mets bats were slugging tonight, the now blonde but still sore legged, Asdrubal Cabrera,  blasted a two run HR, his 17th of the year, as he continued his hot hitting since returning from the DL. Jay Bruce, who's still trying to feel comfy with a bat in a Mets uniform, got a solid hit & scored on Wilmer Flores base hit.

The score remained that way until Curtis Granderson delivered a pinch hit HR in the in the 6th inning. He stayed in the game & hit a two run HR in the 7th inning as well. 

Granderson's crazy season had him at 22 HRs with just 38 RBIs. He's on pace to become the first player in MLB history to hit 25 HRs & drive in less than 50 runs.

Also in the 6th inning, veteran Jose Reyes (who was hitting .300) doubled. Marlin, walks to Asdrubal Cabrera & Jay Bruce loaded the bases. Alejandro De Aza, who couldn't hit anything at the start of the season & was still batting under .200,  had driven in 15 of his 21 RBIs in the month of August.

 Mets reliever, Jim Henderson was not able to close the door in the 9th, as the Marlins scored two runs, making it 7-4 Mets. Terry Collins went to his closer, Jeruys Familia & he struck out Marcell Ozuna to end the game.

Familia, earned the save, his 43rd on the season, tying his own Mets record which was also shared with Armando Benitez.

Lugo eraned the win to get to 2-2.