Clutch Canha & Alonso Help Mets Pull Out Win Over Colorado

Mark Canha being greeted by Pete Alonso after he scored in the fifth inning. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Mets completed a late comeback on Friday night at Citi Field, as Mark Canha tied it with a two-run double in the eighth, and Pete Alonso finished it off with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, as they beat the Colorado Rockies, 7-6.

Alonso set some Mets history with that hit, as he now has a franchise-record 25 game-winning RBI in a season, passing Keith Hernandez's previous record of 24 in 1985. Since 1954, only three players have had more game-winning RBI in a season, Willie Mays, with 27 in 1962, Joe Torre's 27 in 1971, and Jim Gentile's 16 in 1961.

It was the Mets' first baseman sixth career walk-off RBI, and second this season, with the first coming on May 19.

For Canha, he now has three game-tying hits and two go-ahead hits in his last seven games, and he is batting .412 with 10 extra base hits in his last 11 games. The Mets left fielder has 15 RBI in his last 17 games.

The Mets move back to 35 games over .500, at 81-46, and they maintain their two-game lead in the National League East over the Atlanta Braves (79-48), who made a statement in St. Louis with an 11-4 win over the Cardinals.

The Mets got on the board first against Rockies starter Chad Kuhl, when Brett Baty launched his first home run at Citi Field, and second since he was called up last week, a solo shot in the third inning. 

Brett Baty being congratulated by Jeff McNeil after his home run in the third inning by the dugout. Photo by Jason Schott.

In the fifth, they added to it when Starling Marte had a two-run triple up the right-center field gap that made it 3-0.

By this point, Mets starter Chris Bassitt cruised through the first five innings, as he scattered just four hits, didn't allow a walk, and got a couple of double plays. 

Bassitt stumbled in the sixth, as Wynton Bernard led off with a single, followed by Ryan McMahon drawing a walk before Brendan Rodgers brought them both in with a blast off the top of the fence in right-center field. C.J. Cron then followed with a one-out single to bring in Rodgers to tie it at 3.

The Mets got the lead back in the bottom of the sixth when Colorado turned to Lucas Gilbreath, as Darin Ruf drew a one-out walk, followed by a single by Jeff McNeil, and Canha followed with a hit up the gap in center field. Ruf scored easily, but McNeil was thrown out at the plate, so the Mets were only able to take a 4-3 lead. 

Bassitt rolled through the seventh with ease, and he got Rodgers to ground out to open the eighth. He then allowed a single to Charlie Blackmon, and that was all for his night. 

The Mets turned to Mychal Givens, and he allowed a single to Cron and then he hit Jose Iglesias with a pitch to load the bases. 

Givens then struck out Randal Grichuk on a high fastball for the second out, but then Elias Diaz hit one up the right field gap to clear the bases and give the Rockies a 4-3 lead.

That closed the book on Bassitt, who had a largely solid outing, as he went 7 1/3 innings, and allowed four runs (all earned) on eight hits and a walk, with one strikeout.

Chris Bassitt firing one to Connor Joe in the fifth inning.

Carlos Estevez came on for the Rockies in the bottom of the eighth, and he struck out Francisco Lindor and Alonso to open the inning, and it appeared he might have gotten the third out when Darin Ruf hit one to third base, but McMahon couldn't corral it, so Ruf was safe, and the inning continued.

McNeil followed with a single, and Comeback Canha followed with a double to left to bring in Ruf and McNeil, and the game was tied at 6.

The Mets turned to their closer, Edwin Diaz, in the ninth to preserve the tie, and he worked around a McMahon double to retire the Rockies.

Daniel Bard came on for Colorado in the bottom of the ninth, and he allowed a one-out walk to Nimmo and hit Marte with a pitch before getting Lindor to line out to left field.

Alonso was up next, and Pete punched one past the third baseman to bring in Nimmo and give the Mets the 7-6 win.

Tomorrow is Old Timers' Day at Citi Field, please click here for what you need to know if you're coming to Citi Field.