Francisco Alvarez broke out of his slump with a game-winning solo home run in the ninth inning, leading the New York Mets to a 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. J.D. Martinez and Tyrone Taylor also contributed to the Mets' offense with a two-run homer and an RBI single, respectively.
The win brought the Mets within 1 1/2 games of the last National League wild card spot currently held by the Atlanta Braves. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised Alvarez's performance, highlighting the importance of key players getting back on track.
Ramón Urías' tying homer in the seventh inning for the Orioles leveled the score, but Alvarez's clutch hit secured the win for the Mets. Alvarez, who had been struggling since the All-Star break, delivered his first game-ending hit in the majors with a 421-foot blast.
Despite a strong outing by Mets starter David Peterson, who recorded eight strikeouts in seven innings, a balk and a subsequent home run by Urías allowed the Orioles to tie the game. Peterson expressed frustration over the sequence of events but acknowledged his overall consistency on the mound.
The game featured solid relief pitching from both teams, with Colin Selby and Keegan Akin retiring all 10 batters they faced for the Orioles. Alvarez's walk-off homer was the Mets' only hit since the fourth inning.
With the victory, the Mets secured their eighth walk-off win of the season and maintained their playoff hopes alive. The Orioles, on the other hand, fell half a game behind the New York Yankees in the AL East standings.
Looking ahead, the Orioles will send RHP Dean Kremer to the mound in the next game against Mets' LHP Jose Quintana. The matchup promises to be an exciting continuation of the series between the two teams.
Overall, the game showcased a mix of strong pitching, timely hitting, and dramatic moments, culminating in a thrilling walk-off victory for the New York Mets.
