NY began the night with a one-game lead over St. Louis for the second NL wild card, one game behind San Francisco, and stood to gain ground on the loser of the Cardinals’ game at the Giants. The Cardinals played later against the Giants, who were one game ahead of the Mets for the first wild card.
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1B Lucas Duda was activated from the 60-day disabled list on Saturday, when he did not play in the Mets’ 3-2, 12-inning win over the Twins.
The 22-year-old Berrios (2-7) was 2 years old when Colon made his big league debut in April 1997. The victory ended up going to Eric Goeddel, who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Sep. Without Jacob deGrom, they got a solid start from Gabriel Ynoa and solid relief from the bullpen.
Conforto, a big part of last season’s World Series run who has struggled and shuttled between the Mets and Class AAA Las Vegas this season, plopped a two-run single into center off Kyle Gibson (6-10) with the bases loaded and none out in the first. It was his 28th home run this year and third career game-ender, including one on May 27 against the Dodgers. These are games the Mets have to win, when you consider the competition.
The Minnesota Twins will be looking towards the off season and finding ways to improve their lineup. His homer leading off the bottom of the 11 tied the game after Byron Buxton had given the Twins a 2-1 lead in the top half of the frame. He’s not in the mix for the Cy Young Award, but he is a huge reason that the Mets are sitting in a playoff spot with 15 games to play and only teams with losing records remaining on their schedule.
According to Twitter user @NYMStats, the Mets set a new franchise record for the most home runs in a season with 201, and are now 10 games over.500 for the first time this season.
Reyes got the Mets going, opening the third by pulling a drive over the right-field fence, No. 7 of the season for No. 7. Rookie Seth Lugo labored through five innings of four-hit ball to again support the Mets’ decimated rotation.
The Mets used eight pitchers Saturday, but long relievers Sean Gilmartin and Logan Verrett and former starter Rafael Montero – who initially filled in for deGrom but lost his rotation spot after issuing 14 walks in three starts – did not pitch and should be available to back up Ynoa.
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Walker’s future: Neil Walker, out for the season after back surgery and headed for free agency, said he is regaining strength in his legs though he is still experiencing numbness. General manager Sandy Alderson said the injury is a common byproduct of Tommy John surgery, which deGrom underwent in 2010. NOT BRUCE FANS Fans booed outfielder Jay Bruce after he popped out to foul territory in the seventh and struck out with a man on in the eighth. He dropped to 0-6 in seven starts since beating Cleveland on August 1 in his return from the minors. Conforto came up with the bases loaded and none out in the first and laced an opposite-field single for a 2-0 lead. LHP Steven Matz (shoulder tightness) is to throw a bullpen Saturday; he has not pitched since August 14. Matz will be evaluated Sunday before determining his next course of action.
