Mets sweep the Phillies behind Nick Plummer's breakthrough, Eduardo Escobar's heroics
NEW YORK – Behind the walk-off came a little wisdom.
It was the bottom of the tenth and Eduardo Escobar stepped up to the plate with a tried and true pep talk. An intentional walk to Pete Alonso gave the Mets' third baseman a chance to erase a hitless night.
"One swing can change everything," Escobar said. "One swing can make my day."
Indeed, it can.
Escobar laced a double to right to lift the Mets to a dramatic 5-4 walk-off win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night at Citi Field. Yet none of it would have been possible if not for an unlikely hero earlier on.
Recent call-up Nick Plummer tied the game in the ninth with a solo shot into the second deck in right. The rookie outfielder became the first Met to collect his first major league hit on a homer since Jeremy Hefner did exactly 10 years ago. The 25-yer-old said he'll probably give the ball to his parents after trading a signed, game-used bat to the fan who retrieved it.
"It's been cool to be able to get in there, play behind the guys and ultimately come up with the win," Plummer said. "Pretty surreal. Really no words."
The NL East-leading Mets (32-17) not only picked up their first sweep of the year, but moved to 15 games over .500 for the first time all year. They've walked off three times this year and won all four games decided in extras.
The comeback bailed out Adam Ottavino, who gave up a go-ahead, three-run home run to Nick Castellanos in the eighth.
"It's just the mentality that we have," starter Chris Bassitt said. "It happens because we believe in it. You get us down a little bit, but we're not going to quit. You have to get 27 outs or more versus us and it's hard to do."
Bassitt bounced back from his worst start of the season by scattering two hits and one run over six solid innings. The Mets' right-hander pinned the turnaround on his work this week with Hefner on mechanics and how to attack lefties.
"I really want to eat more innings than six innings," Bassitt said. "I have to be more efficient."
Comedy of errors
The Mets scored three runs in the first inning by taking advantage of the maligned Phillies defense.
The backbreaker came with runners on the corners, when everyone reached base on a potential double play ball.
An errant throw by Rhys Hoskins pulled Johan Camargo off the bag at second and the shortstop's throw home sailed wide after a double clutch. That put ex-Met Zack Wheeler in a tough spot with the heart of the order due up.
Alonso loaded the bases with a single and Escobar (fielder's choice) and Mark Canha (grounder) both followed with run-scoring outs.
Blunders have become all-too-common for the Phillies – who rank last in the majors in defensive runs saved – and this one taxed their right-hander.
Wheeler retired nine of the next 10 Mets, but a 32-pitch first inning cost him a chance to go deeper in the game.
On the mend
Mets' reliever Drew Smith left the game in the seventh inning with a dislocated right pinky finger. Smith tried to field a comebacker from J.T. Realmuto, but the ball bounced off his bare hand and into center.
X-rays came back negative for a fracture, so the Mets are listing Smith as day-to-day. Smith was encouraged by the lack of swelling after a team doctor popped his finger into place.
"I honestly thought it was broken on the mound just by the way it looked," Smith said. "I dodged a bullet. I'll probably get some more testing done tomorrow."
Smith has been one of the most reliable arms out of the pen after starting the year with 13 1/3 scoreless innings.
Leading the way
Luis Guillorme hasn't skipped a beat after taking over for Brandon Nimmo (sprained right wrist) as the Mets' tablesetter.
Guillorme singled, doubled and scored the first run of the night on Sunday while raising his battle average to .355.
The second baseman is now 5-for-8 in two games since taking over in the leadoff spot.
"I think Luis has always been capable of this," manager Buck Showalter said. "I think Luis is in a good place."
When Showalter took over as manager, he felt like it was important to learn about his roster without developing too many preconceived notions. Showalter wanted his players to feel like they had a fresh start with a new regime.
"It's easy in today's game to stamp guys as this is who they are or what they are," Showalter said before the game. "We're wrong a lot. Everything changes. At his age around 26, 27, 28, 29 you have to be careful with saying that this is what they're always going to be."
Sean Farrell is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.
Email: farrells@northjersey.com
Twitter: @seanfarrell92
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Mets sweep the Phillies behind Eduardo Escobar's heroics
