The New York Mets pulled off a jaw-dropping 8-7 victory against the Atlanta Braves in the first game of their doubleheader, clinching a postseason spot after initially falling behind 3-0 and then 7-6. Francisco Lindor’s electrifying two-run homer in the ninth inning sealed the thrilling comeback, a pivotal win just before the playoffs.
In the wake of the game, Lindor’s heroics ignited discussions about the team’s grit and determination. “Lindor is a bad man,” teammate Brandon Nimmo shared. “I’m glad he’s on our team. He’s going to be remembered as one of the greats.”
The Braves had taken control with a 3-0 lead going into the eighth, bolstered by rookie starter Spencer Schwellenbach. At one point, ESPN Stats & Info gave them a staggering 94.1% chance of victory. However, the Mets flipped the script with a six-run eighth inning, highlighted by Nimmo’s crucial two-run homer, boosting their win probability to 91.3%. But the Braves responded quickly in the bottom of the eighth, scoring four runs, with Ozzie Albies hitting a clutch bases-loaded double that put Atlanta ahead 7-6.
The Mets, however, refused to fold. With one out in the ninth, Starling Marte got on base, setting the stage for Lindor’s game-winning blast into the Braves’ bullpen. “As I rounded the bases, I was just thinking, ‘My back hurts. I’m tired,’” Lindor remarked with a smile during the celebration.
Mets closer Edwin Diaz, despite a shaky outing, secured the win by striking out Ramón Laureano and getting former Met Travis d’Arnaud to ground out. This victory marked the team’s return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022. “I’ll take the win, no matter how tough it was,” Diaz stated post-game.
While the team celebrated their 11th postseason appearance in 63 years, the excitement was tempered, knowing there was one more regular-season game left to play. This doubleheader was necessitated by the postponements caused by Hurricane Helene, which had recently impacted the southeastern U.S. Meanwhile, the Braves secured their wildcard berth by winning the second game of the day, ultimately eliminating the Arizona Diamondbacks from playoff contention.
