The Mets are headed to the postseason after Francisco Lindor’s two-run homer in the ninth capped a wild back-and-forth over the final two innings, giving New York an 8-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a makeup doubleheader squeezed in before the start of the playoffs.
Atlanta would also earn a wildcard berth by winning the second game, which would eliminate Arizona. If the Mets sweep, the Braves would be knocked out.
The game was an instant classic. The Braves, who have foiled the Mets time and again over the years, led 3-0 heading to the eighth behind rookie starter Spencer Schwellenbach. At that point, ESPN Stats & Info gave the Braves a 94.1% chance of winning. But that was long forgotten by the end of this thriller.
New York went 6-3 ahead with a six-run eight, capped by Brandon Nimmo’s two-run homer, and ESPN gave the Mets a 91.3% chance of victory. But the Braves surged back ahead with four runs in the bottom half, with Ozzie Albies delivering a bases-loaded double with two outs for a 7-6 lead after a collapse by Mets closer Edwin Diaz.
The Mets weren’t finished. Starling Marte singled with one out off Pierce Johnson and Lindor, the heart and soul of the Mets team, delivered his 33rd homer, a drive into the Braves bullpen in right-center.
“Lindor is a bad man,” said Nimmo after the game. “And“I’m glad he is on our team. He will go down as one of the best of all time.”
Lindor, meanwhile, was asked what he was thinking about as he rounded the bases. “My back hurts. I’m tired,” he said with a smile.
Diaz then came back on to close out the game. He earned the win with a season high 40 pitches despite giving up Albies’ go-ahead hit, which came after the Mets closer failed to cover first on a play that allowed Jarred Kelenic to reach on a two-out infield hit. The Braves had the potential tying run at second in the ninth, but Díaz struck out Ramón Laureano and retired former Met Travis d’Arnaud on a grounder to shortstop.
Díaz slammed his glove to the ground and the Mets celebrated briefly behind the mound after becoming baseball’s latest playoff team. They had to hold off on a full-fledged celebration of their 11th postseason berth in 63 seasons, their first since 2022. There was still one more regular-season game to play.
The win closed out a regular season for the Mets in which they looked dead and buried after the opening weeks before becoming the form team in baseball.
Monday’s unusual doubleheader was required after two games were washed out last week as Hurricane Helene wreaked destruction across the southeastern US. The Braves could have clinched their seventh straight postseason appearance on Sunday, but a loss to the Kansas City Royals left them tied with the Mets at 88-72. Arizona finished the regular season 89-73.