NEW YORK – Pinch hitter Jesse Winker opened the ninth inning with his first home run for the New York Mets, giving them another thrilling 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Mets starter Sean Manaea retired his first 17 batters and Mark Vientos gave New York a 3-2 lead with a home run in the seventh inning.
Francisco Lindor also hit a home run and JD Martinez scored a run on a grounder to help the Mets win two of three in the series. New York began the day 2 1/2 games behind Atlanta, securing the final playoff spot in the National League.
“Great series for us, especially because we won two games and we won them like that – walk-off home runs against a really good team,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Both times we had the lead and lost it late in the game, but then we were able to find a way. And this is about finding ways to win games.”
After a 5-4 home win, the Mets begin a crucial 10-game road trip Thursday night with the first of four games at up-and-coming San Diego.
“They are playing well, but we will be prepared,” Mendoza said.
Edwin Diaz (5-1) had two strikeouts in a perfect inning for his second win of the series. The first win came on Monday night when Francisco Alvarez’s home run in the ninth inning gave the Mets a 4-3 victory.
Seranthony Dominguez (3-4) allowed both home runs that ended the game.
“The atmosphere feels like a playoff game,” Mendoza said. “You know who you’re playing against.”
Winker, acquired from Washington in a trade on July 28, fought back from 0-2 to a full count, hitting a 98-mph fastball the other way to left-center field for his second major league walk-off home run.
His 12th home run of the season was his second as a pinch hitter and the sixth of his career.
“On a personal level, it’s probably one of my favorite things to do,” Winker said.
The pumped-up outfielder threw his helmet to the ground and paused to stretch toward the New York dugout before beginning his run around the bases. He paused once more between third base and home plate, then finally joined his excited teammates waiting to celebrate.
“I saw it fly over the fence and I lost consciousness,” Winker said, laughing. “I have no other answer to that. I was completely unconscious.”
Adley Rutschman’s sacrifice fly tied the game for the Orioles in the eighth inning, just moments after pinch hitter Ryan O’Hearn was sent off by umpire Marvin Hudson for a swing strikeout with the bases loaded and no outs.
“We missed a couple of double plays that would have hurt, but we got three hits,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “It’s hard to win a Major League Baseball game when you get three hits.”
Manaea was one strike away from completing six perfect innings when he hit Jackson Holliday behind the shoulder with a 2-2 fastball, silencing the growing excitement in the stands.
Austin Slater hit the next pitch the other way into right field and hit a two-run home run that tied the game at 2-2, nullifying the no-hit attempt and the shutout in one go.
“It’s hard not to think about that,” said Manaea, who threw a no-hitter for Oakland against Boston in April 2018. “It’s definitely on my mind.”
After allowing an infield single to start the eighth inning, Manaea was taken out of the game. In his latest great performance, he allowed just three hits, struck out nine players and did not allow a walk during an efficient 90-pitch performance.
“It’s just the unique angle. He’s big, wide-bodied, kind of a Chris Sale slot,” Hyde said. “He throws a ton of strikes and we just had a hard time hitting against him.”
The left-hander has lasted seven innings in four of his last five starts, although this was the first time all season he lasted until the eighth. He received a standing ovation from the crowd of 32,871 on a beautiful afternoon in Queens, blowing a kiss as he approached the bench.
Jose Butto, replacing Manaea, walked his first two batters, loading the bases with no outs, but limited the damage caused by Rutschman’s sacrifice fly.
Lindor hit his 25th home run in the top of the third inning against Baltimore starter Cole Irvin, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to replace the injured Zach Eflin.
“With our pitching the way it is right now, we need to be able to score some runs,” Hyde said. “It’s a tough battle on the mound right now, so we need to help them until we get through this thing.”
Jesse Winker (3) of the New York Mets is congratulated after hitting a walk-off home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Pete Alonso (20) of the New York Mets pours water over Jesse Winker after his walk-off home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Sean Manaea of the New York Mets throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in New York, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets hits a home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Mark Vientos (27) of the New York Mets hits a single against the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Cole Irvin of the Baltimore Orioles throws against the New York Mets in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Slater (15) hits a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Austin Slater (15) of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Jackson Holliday (7) after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)