Griffin Starts It, Mets Get It Done Late

 

Citi Field was decked out for its opening weekend. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Mets walked it off on Saturday night at Citi Field, as they came from behind to beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-2.

This was the kind of win that could be envisioned with how team President David Stearns built this team.  They would have good starting pitching that would keep the Mets in the game, then their loaded bullpen would hold it there, and the offense is expected to pull it out late.

Griffin Canning, whom the Mets brought in from the Angels in the off-season and is currently the third starter in the Mets rotation, took the mound in this one. 

Griffin Canning pitching to Bo Bichette. First of three pictures by Jason Schott.

The right-hander breezed through the first four innings against a Toronto lineup generally regarded as one of the best in baseball, as he struck out six, while scatttering two hits and three walks.

In the fifth, Alan Roden led off with a single, followed by a single from Bo Bichette, who had a pair of flyouts early on against Canning.

Since this was the start of the third time through the Jays order and he was at 89 pitches (with a superb 60 strikes), that was the end of his night.

Jose Butto was first up out of the Mets bullpen, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. greeted him with a single to bring in Roden and made it 1-0 Toronto.

After keeping it there for the rest of the fifth and then getting the first two outs of the sixth, Roden doubled and Bichette got one of his own to bring him home to give them a 2-0 lead.

Meanwhile, old friend Chris Bassitt was superb for Toronto, as he threw 6 2/3 shutout innings, and scattered four hits and no walks, while striking out nine.

Huascar Brazoban relieved Butto, and he threw 2 1/3 shutout innings to keep it a 2-0 game and put the Mets in position to win it late.

The Mets had the top of the order coming up in the bottom of the eighth against Toronto left-hander Brandon Little.

Francisco Lindor worked out a walk, and the Juan Soto fought one off and dunked it into shallow center field for a single.

Just like that, the Mets had two runners on and no out, but Pete Alonso struck out and Brandon Nimmo lined out to center field.

Jesse Winker was up next, and he laced a triple to right field - his second of the night - but this one brought in two runs to tie the game.

Nick Sandlin relieved Little, and he struck out Vientos to keep it even heading to the ninth.

Edwin Diaz came on for the Mets, and after striking out Roden, he allowed singled to Bichette and Guerrero, Jr. 

Up next was Toronto's big acquisition Anthony Santander, and Diaz struck him out. as he did former Mets top prospect Andres Gimenez to get out of trouble.

Sandlin stayed on for the bottom of the ninth, and he issued a one-out walk to Jose Siri, who then reached second base on a wild pitch. 

Luis Torrens, who came on late after being pulled from the starting lineup due to a right forearm contusion, then singled to left field, and Siri got to third base.

That set up Lindor with a chance to win the game, and he did with a sacrifice fly to center field, with Siri racing home with ease with the winning run.

The Mets are now 5-3 on the season, and they go for the sweep of the Jays on Sunday afternoon. 

The biggest difference about the Mets now is that a win like this is expected, especially after they pulled games out like this one the final four months last season and throughout October.