The New York Mets secured a split of their two-game London Series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-5 win on Sunday. In the game’s final moments, catcher Luis Torrens skillfully turned a bases-loaded roller from Nick Castellanos in front of the plate into a game-ending double play.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was in awe of the incredible play. He praised the player’s instincts to not just retrieve the baseball, but also to touch the plate and execute a throw. Mendoza remarked that it was an unbelievable play and admitted that he had never seen anything like it before.
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When asked about the play, Smith shared that he initially believed Torrens had stepped on the bat. Despite the uncertainty, he acknowledged the impressive effort and emphasized the team’s need for such plays. Smith recounted asking Torrens about the potential bat step, to which Torrens replied in the negative.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the catcher-to-first double play on a grounder during the game was the first of its kind since Philadelphia’s Erik Kratz accomplished it in the third inning against Miami’s Justin Bour on September 22, 2015.
In the seventh inning, David Dahl broke a 3-3 tie by hitting a pinch-hit homer off Dedniel Núñez, securing the win for the Phillies. With a record of 45-20, the Phillies are currently the best team in the major league. This victory comes after their fourth straight win, which was in Saturday’s opener. It’s worth noting that this game marked the third time Major League Baseball has come to London.
In the first inning, Bohm hit into a double play that scored a run with the bases loaded. The Philadelphia team then extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Castellanos ran around third base and made it home on Sosa’s double. The relay throw bounced on the turf and just went over the glove of Torrens. Whit Merrifield then hit an RBI single off Jose Quintana.
In the sixth inning, New York (28-36) managed to equalize the score by loading the bases against Taijuan Walker, a former Mets pitcher. Brandon Nimmo then hit a double that resulted in an RBI off Gregory Soto, and J.D. Martinez followed with a two-run single.
During the season, Walker had experienced some shoulder soreness, but he was still able to pitch and allowed only two runs and two hits in 5 2/3 innings. On the other hand, Quintana gave up three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.
A total of six pitchers were utilized by both teams, with Alvarado throwing 35 pitches, out of which 18 were strikes.
According to Phillies manager Rob Thomson, “I thought he was just missing, but his stuff was really good. You have games like that. I still trust him a great deal.”
Torrens was acquired by the Mets from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash on May 31. He is currently battling to maintain his spot on the team, as Francisco Alvarez, who has been out with a left thumb strain, may be making his return this week.
Mendoza expressed the need to make a difficult decision soon, stating, “We have to make a tough decision here really soon.”
FUN & GAMES
During the recent Wrexham game, co-owner Rob McElhenney and his wife, Kaitlin Olson, opted for a unique approach to the traditional ceremonial first pitch. Instead, they performed a “ceremonial double play” where Olson rolled the ball to McElhenney at shortstop, who then threw it to former Phillies All-Star, Chase Utley, at second base. Utley then fired a strike to Harper at first. The Phillie Phanatic also made an appearance, dressed as a Beefeater, and served tea to the ESPN broadcasting crew. The game had an attendance of 55,074.
TRAINER’S ROOM
According to Thomson, Trea Turner of the Phillies showed significant progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury. During a session on Saturday, the two-time All-Star shortstop ran on a grass soccer field beside the stadium, where he performed exceptionally well. Turner also took the opportunity to field grounders and hit in the cages, indicating that he is making steady progress towards a full recovery.
Starling Marte, the outfielder for the Mets, was absent from the lineup a day after failing to make a catch in right field. According to Mendoza, the team’s plan upon arriving in London was to restrict the 35-year-old player to a single game on the artificial turf due to a knee problem.
On Tuesday, the Phillies will kick off a three-game series against Boston with RHP Zack Wheeler (7-2, 2.33 ERA) expected to take the mound.
The New York Mets are gearing up for their upcoming game against the Miami Marlins, with right-handed pitcher Tylor Megill slated to start on Tuesday. Megill has a current record of 1-2 and an impressive ERA of 3.00, making him a valuable asset to the team. Fans are eagerly anticipating his performance on the mound and hoping for a successful outcome.
