Mets fans know why.
#LOLMets has been a popular hashtag for frustrated Mets fans. Who can not forget the Wilpons being scammed in a Ponzi scheme? How about when Luis Castillo dropped a popup that would have given the Mets a victory over the Yankees? Or in 2022, when the Braves swept the Mets in Atlanta, which led to the Amazins’ losing the NL East and playing in the Wild Card rounds? If you want to go even further before #LOLMets became popular, how about when the Mets had that epic 2007 collapse from the first place that had them miss the playoffs altogether?
For fans who rooted for the Mets in the late 90s, the Atlanta Braves always ended the Mets season. Remember the final weekend of the 1998 season when the Mets needed to win just one game against the Braves for a chance to qualify for a play-in game? Instead, they were swept. In 1999, the Mets had a chance to make it to Game 7 against the Braves in the National League Championship Series. But then Kenny Rogers couldn’t find the strike zone, and he walked Andruw Jones, who eventually scored the winning run. The Braves went on to win the NLCS.
For fans who rooted for the Mets in the 1980s, Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia hit a two-run home run off Dwight Gooden in Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS. That homer tied the game at 4 in the ninth inning, and the Dodgers eventually took a 5-4 victory in extra innings to even the Series at two. They ultimately won the Series in seven.
Ever since 1986, it has been #LOLMets … except for yesterday in Atlanta. The Mets exorcised all those moments in their epic 8-7 victory over the Braves in Game 1 of the doubleheader at Truist Park. That win clinched a playoff berth for them.
It was a legacy game, the type of game that Mets fans will forever remember. For the fans who are 40 or younger, it may have been the best moment in their personal experience with the franchise. For older generations, it was one of the best.
When one looks at the twists and turns in a game, one can make the case that it was one of the best moments in New York sports history. Hyperbole? It’s not so when you look at the Mets’ history against the Braves, especially in Atlanta.
Braves stud rookie Spencer Schwellenbach stymied the Mets for most of the game, and it appeared he was going for the complete game. Then, Tyrone Taylor won the battle of an 11-pitch duel against Schwellenbach, hitting a leadoff double to start the eighth inning, and Schwellenbach was gone. From there, a 3-0 deficit, the Mets went on top 6-3 on Francisco Alvarez’s RBI double, Francisco Lindor’s RBI single, Jose Iglesias’ game-tying RBI single, Matt Vientos’ tie-breaking RBI sac-fly, and Brandon Nimmo’s two-run home run. That flurry came Braves setup guy Joe Jimenez and Braves closer Raisel Iglesias.
Of course, the Braves would answer; they always do, especially against the Mets. The Braves regained a 7-6 lead after Jarred Kelenic’s RBI single and Ozzie Albies’ RBI double off Mets closer Edwin Diaz. But the game wasn’t over. Linor hit a two-run home run to give the Mets an 8-7 lead, and Diaz redeemed himself by throwing a zero in the ninth inning to preserve this win.
Players came through when the Mets needed them the most.
–Lindor played the game like an MVP, delivering not one but two big moments. He hit an RBI single in the eighth to cut the Braves lead to 3-2 and then slammed a HR in the ninth. Moreover, he’s hitting like that while playing with a back injury.
–Diaz wanted the ball in the ninth, wanting to make amends after blowing it in the eighth. He was the right guy in that spot, a player who has earned respect from teammates, managers/coaches, and fans.
–Iglesias has been money for the Mets all year. He had the biggest hit as a Met with that game-tying RBI single in the eighth, which was another OMG! moment by him.
–If Taylor did not have that epic at-bat, who knows how the game ends? That moment started everything.
–Tylor Megill deserves the unsung hero award. He kept the Mets in the game by pitching efficiently.
Those five heroes will be remembered for what they did.
The Game One win on Monday validates the Mets’ season, and beating the Braves in Atlanta makes it all the more enjoyable. It’s only fitting the Mets had a moment against a team they have struggled against mightily.
That win was the Mets’ finest hour since they won Game 7 of the 1986 World Series. For all the #LOLMets moments we’ve suffered through at Mets’ fans, Monday was a seminal moment for a star-crossed franchise.
