In a thrilling extra-inning showdown, Mark Vientos delivered a clutch performance to propel the New York Mets past the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Friday night. Vientos, who had already launched a solo homer earlier in the game, stepped up in the 10th inning with a tiebreaking double that ignited the Mets' offense and secured their fourth win in five games.
The last-place Mets (15-23) are finding their stride on a nine-game road trip, improving to 5-2 after a rough stretch that saw them lose 17 of 20. Vientos' heroics came on the first pitch he saw from Kevin Ginkel (1-2), as he ripped a double down the left-field line to score automatic runner Brett Baty from second base. Carson Benge followed with another RBI double, extending the lead to 3-1 and giving the Mets all the cushion they needed.
Tobias Myers closed the door in the 10th for his first career save, striking out Ildemaro Vargas to seal the victory. The Mets' bullpen was stellar, with Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Devin Williams (2-1), and Myers each tossing a scoreless inning of relief. Weaver faced a bases-loaded jam in the seventh but escaped by inducing a weak grounder from Geraldo Perdomo.
On the mound, rookie right-hander Nolan McLean continued to impress, allowing just three hits over six innings with one walk and six strikeouts. The 24-year-old has been a bright spot for the Mets, boasting a 2.78 ERA over eight starts this season. For the Diamondbacks, starter Ryne Nelson turned in his longest outing of the year, surrendering two hits and a walk over 6 2/3 innings while striking out seven.
The game saw early fireworks as Vientos put the Mets on the board in the second inning with his fifth homer of the season. Arizona answered in the bottom half when Nolan Arenado went deep, tying the game 1-1. The Diamondbacks had a chance to break the deadlock in the seventh but couldn't capitalize against Weaver's clutch pitching.
In a moment of excitement for Arizona, top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt singled in his first major league plate appearance after pinch-hitting for Adrian Del Castillo in the eighth. However, the Diamondbacks were without second baseman Ketel Marte, who was a late scratch due to illness.
Looking ahead, the Diamondbacks will send right-hander Merrill Kelly (1-3, 9.95 ERA) to the mound on Saturday, while the Mets counter with right-hander Clay Holmes (4-2, 1.69). With momentum on their side, the Mets will aim to continue their resurgence and climb out of the NL East basement.