ATLANTA — For most of the afternoon and then following an Edwin Diaz implosion it appeared “OMG” – one more game – would be needed for the Mets.
Francisco Lindor took “OMG” to another meaning with one swing in the ninth inning that thrust the Mets into the postseason with an 8-7 victory over the Braves in Game 1 of a doubleheader.
Lindor’s two-run homer gave the Mets the runs they needed for their 89th victory – their magic number as the day began for a National League wild-card berth.
In an epic finish, the Mets rallied from a 3-0 deficit with six runs in the eighth. Diaz entered in the bottom of the frame, with a five-out save hanging in the balance, and coughed it up. Included was his failure to cover first base on Jarred Kelenic’s grounder before losing the strike zone and allowing a three-run double to Ozzie Albies.
After Lindor’s blast put the Mets ahead, Diaz returned for the ninth and got the final three outs. The game ended with the tying run at second base. Diaz spiked his glove to begin the celebration.
The Mets’ wild-card series opponent is contingent upon how they fare in the nightcap. A victory would mean facing the Padres beginning tomorrow in San Diego. A loss would mean returning to Milwaukee to face the Brewers.
The Braves needed a victory in the nightcap to clinch the remaining wild-card berth, otherwise the spot would belong to the Diamondbacks.
Spencer Schwellenbach frustrated the Mets with seven superb innings, but after the right-hander was removed the party began. The climax was Brandon Nimmo’s three-run blast against Raisel Iglesias that gave the Mets a 6-3 lead. Francisco Alvarez had an RBI double in the inning and Lindor contributed an RBI single.
Tylor Megill kept the Mets in the game by allowing three earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander surrendered eight hits and walked two, but also struck out eight. The right-hander was making his first start since Sept. 22.
Albies delivered a two-run homer in the third that put the Mets in a 2-0 hole. Megill allowed a leadoff single to Michael Harris II before Albies connected on a slider and cleared the left-field fence. Megill had to work to get through the inning, after Matt Olson and Ramon Laureano each singled and got to second and third on Alvarez’s passed ball. But Megill struck out Travis d’Arnaud to escape.
Tyrone Taylor’s infield single in the second was the Mets’ only hit through the first four innings. Taylor’s squib started out several feet foul along the first base line and then made a dramatic left turn to stop in fair territory. But Schwellenbach retired the next three batters.
The Mets launched their first legitimate rally in the fifth, when Pete Alonso and J.D. Martinez each singled leading off. The runners reached second and third on Alvarez’s swinging bunt for the second out before Schwellenbach retired Harrison Bader.
Laureano’s homer in the sixth widened the Mets’ deficit to 3-0. It came after two straight innings in which Megill had faced the minimum number of batters. Megill was removed after allowing a two-out single to Gio Urshela in the sixth. Heoscar Brazoban entered and walked Orlando Arcia before recording the final out.