It was briefly reminiscent of the type of game that haunts a squad. The Pirates might have won the game with a single mistake or misdirected delivery. The New York Mets, however, did not shatter this time; rather, they bowed just enough to show us why this team is indeed great.
Their third consecutive victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1, on Tuesday night wasn’t particularly noteworthy. It was the type of hard-fought, sweat-it-out triumph that successful teams manage to achieve.
In a match marked by tension and tightrope situations, it was the Mets who retained their equilibrium.
Baty’s bat speaks volumes as the infield crowd thickens
Brett Baty is authoritatively busting down the barriers to regular playing time, not simply banging on it. Baty’s bat is pushing the debate, but the Mets’ infield still has a lot of choices.
Baty hit the game-winning home run on Tuesday, when the score was tied at one, and it flew to the other field like a well-aimed arrow.
In a game with little margin for mistake, it was his sixth of the season and maybe the most significant one, separating the Mets.
Slashing now. Although Baty’s stats (239/.270/.521) don’t shout superstardom, they do hint at something more significant: progress.
For him, the game has finally slowed down, and he is grasping the important moments. He makes better swing choices and exudes confidence. The Mets put their faith in this version of Baty, and it is finally paying off.
Senga quietly dominates with poise and punchouts
Although he didn’t need it, Kodai Senga didn’t have his most dominant items. He brought maturity and poise to the mound, which enabled him to maneuver through traffic and out of traffic jams like a skilled escape artist.
Senga punched out seven batters in 5.2 innings while scattering six hits and two walks. His one flaw, a run permitted, seemed less like a wound than a scratch.
He outlasted and outwitted a Pirates lineup that had trouble putting anything together, but he didn’t dominate.
Senga has quietly been a key member of the Mets rotation, recording a 1.22 ERA this season. Pitch on pitch, outing by outing, he is setting an example for a staff suddenly bursting with effective arms.
In low-scoring games, Senga’s accuracy keeps the Mets moving, much like a watchmaker putting together delicate gears.
Diaz embraces the pressure and delivers again
The finest closers in baseball not only withstand pressure, but thrive on it. With his characteristic rage and fire, Edwin Diaz appeared completely at home in the center of the storm.
A walk and a Lindor mistake to make things intriguing in the ninth inning might have quickly turned into a disaster. However, Diaz stepped up and delivered a game-winning groundout to put an end to the drama.
Now that he has recorded his ninth save of the year, Diaz appears to be the dominant player that everyone always anticipated him to be.
He has pitched 7.1 shutout innings in his previous seven games, recording three saves and nine strikeouts without giving up a run.
The swagger has returned. The assurance. The first pump. Diaz has not only steadied but also rekindled his passion in May.
Mets finding momentum as May rolls on
The Mets, who have won five of their previous six games, are swimming with purpose rather than merely surviving. Even though Tuesday’s victory was close, it fits into a bigger story that implies this club has figured out how to win the ugly ones too.
It serves as a reminder that highlight reel moments and blowouts aren’t the only things that define a season. They can occasionally depend on a single stroke, a perfectly positioned fastball, or a composed demeanor under duress. On Tuesday, the Mets had all three.
