Mets beat Nationals on Starling Marte's walk-off hit in 10th, move a game ahead of Atlanta for final wild-card spot
Starling Marte #6 of the Mets reacts after his tenth inning game winning base hit against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Francisco Lindor has carried so much of this Mets season on his back — metaphorically and, given his recent injury, literally. On Monday, as the Mets faced the reality of playing a chunk of this pivotal stretch run without their team MVP, it was time for his teammates to return the favor.
Sean Manaea understood the assignment. So did Jose Iglesias. And so, too, did Starling Marte — who, two days after believing he’d broken his arm, delivered a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning as the Mets beat the Nationals, 2-1, at Citi Field.
Atlanta was walloped by the Dodgers, so with 12 games left in the season, the Mets are in sole possession of the final National League wild-card spot by one game.
Marte entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth and later came through with his 11th career walk-off RBI, something made even more impressive by the fact that, up until Sunday, no one knew if he had broken his arm after he was pegged by a 98-mph fastball on Saturday.
The good news didn’t end there, either: An MRI on Lindor’s ailing lower back revealed no structural damage, meaning he might be back for their four-game series against the Phillies, which kicks off Thursday.
“We have to do our job because he’s been putting this team on his shoulders . . . so by the time [Lindor] comes back, we’re in a better position,” Marte said through an interpreter. “It’s a huge loss because he’s the leader of this team, but it’s important for us to go out there and try to carry the load for him.”
With the Mets down 1-0, two outs and a runner on third in the eighth, Iglesias hit a comebacker that bounced off reliever Derek Law and died in no-man’s land between the mound and second base, driving in Tyrone Taylor to tie it at 1. Taylor had led off the inning with a double.
Edwin Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth and Reed Garrett and a sure-handed Luisangel Acuna at shortstop tag-teamed to strand the ghost runner in the 10th to set it up for Marte.
Former Met Jacob Barnes intentionally walked Taylor to put runners on first and second in the 10th and Francisco Alvarez flied out to deep right to advance ghost runner Harrison Bader to third. Marte then lined a 3-and-1 fastball to left to give the Mets the win.
“I’m using every position player available; I’m using all the bullets and playing matchups,” Carlos Mendoza said. “We found a way. Another close game and it’s a good feeling when you’re using pretty much the whole roster and you get the job done.”
They were in that position only because of yet another sterling start by Manaea. He allowed one earned run with a walk and six strikeouts. Since June 14, he’s allowed three or fewer earned runs 16 times in 18 starts, tying Chris Sale for the most in MLB during that stretch. He has a 2.69 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 110 1⁄3 innings in that span and has pitched at least seven innings in eight of his 30 starts.
And by the way, he was very aware that Atlanta was losing.
“I’ve always dreamt of being in a position like this,” Manaea said. “Helping this team win is huge and I’m sucking up every moment.”
It was a positive end to a day that was shrouded in a lot of uncertainty — particularly with regard to their star shortstop, who said he hopes to be down for only two to five days.
“I was praying on the way to the MRI, CT scan, that it was going to be something day-to-day, and the good Lord answered my prayers,” Lindor said. “I’m here. I probably won’t do much today, but it’s something where I should be starting to do physical activities, whether tomorrow or the next day, depending on how my back reacts.”
Lindor, who’s been dealing with discomfort for about 10 days, missed a game for the first time this season Saturday and was pulled after one inning Sunday — a major cause for concern, given that the shortstop has routinely played through injury throughout his career.
“Honestly, relief,” Mendoza said of his reaction. “. . . The hope is that he’s going to be a player for us before the year is over. I was expecting the worst, to be honest with you.”
The injury does not rise to the severity of a strain, Lindor said, adding that he still felt tightness and discomfort and that it was inhibiting his defense. He won’t be receiving an injection at the site.
“I have a lot of faith,” said Lindor, who is slashing .271/.342/.496 with 31 homers, 86 RBIs, 27 stolen bases and a 136 OPS+ and whose name has been brought up in the MVP conversation. “I left everything in God’s hands, but at the same time, I was a little concerned. Whenever you’re doing one of those things, you never know what it’s going to show.”
The Mets’ path to postseason glory is going to be a thorny one: After this three-game set against the sub-.500 Nationals, they close out with the Phillies — the team with the best record in baseball — Atlanta and the NL Central-leading Brewers. The final two series are on the road.
“[Lindor] told me to step up,” Iglesias said. “I do every single night for this great team that we have . . . I think we’ve got something going. I’m just glad to be part of it.”
They’ll need him. And Marte. And Manaea. And everyone else. Lindor was pivotal in getting them this far, and now, for at least a little while, it will be up to the other 27 to finish the job.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
