Jeff McNeil’s Pinch-Hit Double Pushes Mets Past Blue Jays, 5-4

The New York Mets took two out of three from the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend, capped off by a 5-4 win on Sunday. Rich Hill made his Mets debut. Acquired by New York earlier this week, the 41-year-old went five scoreless before being pulled with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. The Mets […]

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The New York Mets took two out of three from the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend, capped off by a 5-4 win on Sunday.

Rich Hill made his Mets debut. Acquired by New York earlier this week, the 41-year-old went five scoreless before being pulled with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. The Mets would relinquish the lead but gain it back against former Met Jacob Barnes.

Hill’s Mets career began inauspiciously. Batting leadoff, Toronto’s $150 million man, George Springer doubled to left field on the second pitch of the game. Hill allowed leadoff baserunners in five of his six innings.

Despite the early extra-base hit the Mets would escape the top of the first without allowing a run. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien each flew out and Springer was caught stealing third base by Tomas Nido.

Ross Stripling started for the Blue Jays. Stripling retired the first three batters he faced. In the second inning, Stripling allowed his first hit. J.D. Davis doubled to left field. Jonathan Villar singled to drive in the first run of the afternoon.

A pitcher’s duel brewed until the sixth inning. Hill faced the top of Toronto’s order for the third time. This time he wouldn’t escape spotless. Hill hit Springer with a pitch, Guerrero Jr. doubled, and Semien walked to load the bases with zero outs. Seth Lugo entered in relief.

Lugo couldn’t put out the fire. Bo Bichette singled to center, scoring Springer and Guerrero Jr. Toronto held a 2-1 lead. Teoscar Hernandez rolled over on a pitch to Davis at third base. Davis attempted a play at the plate with Semien coming home. Semien was safe and Davis’ guffaw cost the Mets a possible two outs.

Lugo finished the inning without allowing another run. Hill’s final line stood at five innings, five hits, three earned runs, and one strikeout. He did not induce a swing and miss in 62 pitches.

Unlike Hill, Stripling started the sixth in the dugout. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo opted toward his bullpen and reliever Ryan Borucki.

Borucki walked Michael Conforto with one out, putting Pete Alonso at the plate. Alonso homered off Borucki in Friday’s 3-0 win and would do so again Sunday. Alonso’s 22nd of the year went over the left field fence tying the game at three. It’s his fifth home run since the All-Star break.

PETE TAKES BORUCKI DEEP AGAIN!!!!

WE'RE TIED AT 3!!!! pic.twitter.com/1AB3INFRhS

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 25, 2021

The Mets weren’t done. With two outs, the former Met Barnes entered. Barnes walked Davis, gave up a single to Villar, and faced a pinch-hitting Jeff McNeil. With McNeil’s 11-game hitting streak on the line, he doubled to right field. Both runners scored giving New York a two-run lead.

Jeurys Familia pitched a perfect seventh with two strikeouts. The Mets bottom of the inning run-scoring chance ended on an overturned safe call of James McCann stealing third base.

Trevor May‘s inning didn’t go as well. May allowed three consecutive hits to Semien, Bichette, and Hernandez to bring Toronto with one. May got a Randal Grichuk flyout to stop the onslaught. The Mets intentionally walked Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with runners already on second and third. The game on the line, Alejandro Kirk popped out on the first pitch he saw. Aaron Loup entered for the final out.

Loup faced Cavan Biggio with the bases loaded. Loup fired two sinkers at Biggio. Biggio lined the second one into Dominic Smith‘s glove in left field ending the inning.

Edwin Diaz had the ninth. Springer, Guerrero Jr., Semien, were due up. Diaz caught Springer looking on a 3-2 fastball. He walked Guerrero Jr. He struck out Semien on three sliders. Diaz needed one more out. Bichette was up, Guerrero Jr. on first. Diaz found himself in another 3-2 count and one last slider from Diaz struck out Bichette.

The Mets remain at home for a doubleheader against Atlanta tomorrow. Game 1 is scheduled for 5:10 p.m.

The post Jeff McNeil’s Pinch-Hit Double Pushes Mets Past Blue Jays, 5-4 first appeared on Metsmerized Online.