Remembering Mets History (2022) Mets Comeback with Seven Runs in the top of the 9th To Stun the Phillies

Thursday May 5th, 2022: Buck Showalter's first place Mets (18-9) went to Philadelphia to take on Joe Girardi's Phillies (11-14) who were on a three-game losing streak. 

24,040 came to Citizens Bank Park on this warm evening as the Phillies wore their 1970's classic powder blue uniforms.  

The Mets' Taijuan Walker (0-0) took on the Phillies Aaron Nola (1-3). It was just the third start of the year for Taijuan Walker. He had started the fifth game of the season but only pitched two scoreless innings. He was then side lined for two & a half weeks with bursitis before returning on April 25th.

In the bottom of the 1st, things did not go good for the Mets. The Phillies would score four runs & send ten men to the plate. Kyle Schwarber led off with a walk, then Alex Bohm reached on a fielder's choice. Bryce Harper doubled to left field bringing in the first run. 

Nick Castellanos' grounded out but Bohm scored with the second run.  J.T. Realmuto then singled scoring Harper, making it 3-0. After Walker issued a walk to Rhys Hoskins, Jean Segura brought in the Phils 4th run with a sac fly.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Kyle Schwarber led off with a double. Alec Bohm singled & with one out, Nick Castellanos grounded to short allowing Schwarber to score making it 5-0.

In the 4th back-to-back HRs by Bryce Harper & Nick Castellanos made it a 7-0 nightmare of a night for Taijuan Walker. 

In four innings pitched, he allowed seven runs on nine hits, two walks & two strike outs.

Aaron Nola held the Mets scoreless on just two hits into the 6th inning, when Starling Marte hit his 3rd HR of the year to make it 7-1. 

In the top of the 8th, former Met, Jeurys Familia shut down the Mets on nine pitches, starting out by striking out Dom Smith, then recording two ground ball outs.  James Norwood came on to close it out for the Phillies in the 9th.

Amazing Comeback: Starling Marte reached on an infield single to Johan Camargo at short stop to start the inning. Francisco Lindor followed with a two run HR on the first pitch he saw from James Norwood, making it a 7-3 game, giving the Mets some life. It was Lindor's 5th HR of the season.

After a mound visit, Pete Alonso doubled with a sharp liner to left. Eduardo Escobar lined out for
the first out. Jeff McNeil then singled to right field, advancing Alonso to third.

The Phils brought in their closer, Corey Knebel to try to close it out. Mark Canha hit a weak ground ball to the right side of the infield & reached base safely allowing Alonso to score to make it a 7-4 game.

Knebel struck out Dom Smith for the second out. Next pinch hitter J.D. Davis lined a double to left field bringing in Jeff McNeil to cut the Phillies lead to 7-5.

Buck Showalter sent Travis Jankowski came in to pinch run for Davis. Brandon Nimmo then followed with a line drive base hit to center field, Mark Canha & the speedy Jankowski both scored to tie up the incredible game. 

Starling Marte ten delivered a double off the bottom of the left field wall, scoring Nimmo from first base, in what turned out to be the games winning run.

The Mets amazing comeback saw ten men come to the plate, as they scored seven runs on eight hits. 

Trivia: It was their biggest 9th inning comeback in twenty-five years. 

Edwin Diaz came on to retire the Phils in the 9th for his 6th save. He started out by striking out Roman Quin & ended the game striking out Rhys Hoskins. 

Less than a week after no hitting these Phillies in New York, the Mets stunned them in their own ballpark with a seven-run 9th inning come from behind win.

Trivia: In the Mets sixty years, they have only come from behind in the 9th inning, with a six-run deficit three times.

Quotes- Manager Buck Showalter: "We just strung a lot of good at bats together by some good hitters. A night like tonight makes you realize what could be."

Quotes- Brandon Nimmo: " These guys don't give up. With that mentality, it makes things like this possible".