Wilmer Flores bounced back from trade fears with a walk-off home run as the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 to move within two wins of the National League East leaders. But due to a failed Carlos Gomez physical, the trade did not go through.
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“Two days ago, a lot of phone calls and a lot going on”, Flores said. And somehow, Flores tuned out all of it. He never believed for a second that he couldn’t play shortstop at a Major League level.
The Washington Nationals start this weekend’s three-game set in Citi Field with a 3.0 game lead over the New York Mets in the NL East. Can the Nats add to their lead or will the Mets chip away.
But there could be some clubhouse issues, asThe Washington Post and MLB.com reported that Storen and his agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, met with Washington general manager Mike Rizzo in New York July 30, presumably to talk about Storen’s role with the club after the addition of Papelbon. He kept Washington from scoring into the eighth, but they broke through on a seemingly-phantom hit-by-pitch, an infield single, and a very hard single up the middle by Yunel Escobar. Gio Gonzalez was quite effective through his first three innings, facing just one over the minimum after giving up a walk and a hit. With Gonzalez facing Matt Harvey in the pitching matchup, the total sits at 6.5 runs.
“Great feeling”, said a grinning Flores, who was asked if he’d ever been cheered that way before.
In the fourth inning, however, the wheels started to come off for Gonzalez. Hansel Robles struck out two in his scoreless eleventh inning, one of whom was Bryce Harper, who argued the call intensely with the home plate umpire and was ejected from the game. Gold Glove center fielder Juan Lagares ran down Desmond’s two-out drive at the 380-foot sign with a runner on second in the seventh. He got his ninth strikeout of the game in top of the eighth as he retired Michael Taylor for the first out. If anyone deserves a good day, it’s Flores, but it was tough to see the Nationals drop such a critical game.
“One pitch would have gotten us out of here a little bit sooner”, Harvey said. Dan Uggla would slot into Harper’s spot in the order, and take over at first base.
“And that’s the bottom line to any hitter against any pitcher”. After completely losing his command in the fourth inning, Gonzalez ended his night having thrown 105 pitches (59 strikes) in just 4 2/3 innings. At one point, final remaining position player Wilson Ramos warmed up and swung a bat in the on-deck circle, while pitchers Max Scherzer and Jordan Zimermann were both spotted stretching and preparing to pinch hit.
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Fans jumped out of their seats and roared in a delighted frenzy as Flores pumped his arm in the air and circled the bases, pointing to the word “Mets” written across his chest when he came around third. And after Friday night’s big win, the Mets are certainly looking like a team poised to make a run.
