This season has been a nightmare for the Mets, but they’re still providing fans with some moments worth celebrating.
New York earned a dramatic extra-innings victory over the Rangers on Wednesday night, thanks in large part to Texas closer Aroldis Chapman’s dismal performance in the bottom of the 10th. But the top half of the inning was equally heart-stopping.
After working a scoreless ninth inning, the Mets called on veteran reliever Jeff Brigham to work the 10th as well. He’d only gotten more than three outs in a game four times this season. After allowing a single and a walk to start the inning, Brigham had the bases loaded and nobody out. He got Jonah Heim to line out to shortstop, but the danger wasn’t even close to over.
He needed some serious help to get out of the inning unscathed—and he got it.
The next batter, Travis Jankowski, hit a weak grounder to first base. Pete Alonso fielded it and threw home for one out. Then Omar Narváez threw back to first where Jeff McNeil stepped on the bag to retire Jankowski and end the inning.
WHAT A DOUBLE PLAY BY THE METS!!!! pic.twitter.com/18EKOnryx5
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 31, 2023
That’s about as far from a routine double play as you can imagine. There are so many things that can go wrong on a throw home, but it’s Alonso’s throw that was the key to the play. Because the ball was hit right up the line, Alonso’s throw to the plate traveled right over the base path. That meant that Jankowski, in order to avoid getting drilled in the head, had to slow down and duck. As a result, Narváez had plenty of time to retire Jankowski (one of the fastest runners in the majors) at first.
here's how the mets had extra time to turn the dp pic.twitter.com/PFW2F5ccke
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 31, 2023
The best part, though, was Brigham’s reaction. Once he saw that Jankowski was out and the threat was over, he pumped his fist emphatically and yelled at the top of his lungs.
Jeff Brigham was HYPED on the Mets' double play in the 10th inning 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z9q5ytpmvo
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 31, 2023
Try telling him this was a meaningless game in the dog days of August.
