Pressure Cooker. Holmes Says “STOP RIGHT THERE!” Yankees 7 Mets 6

June 14, 2023 paperbacklou 2023 0

It was a real pressure cooker going on in the bottom of the 8th, with the Yankees leading 7-6, and the Mets loading the bases with 1 out and the heart of their order up, Francisco Lindor and Starling Marte.

But Clay Holmes said “STOP RIGHT THERE!” He struck out Lindor on a 3-2 pitch, then seemingly struck out Marte on a 3-2 pitch but the ball was just tip-fouled at the plate, then on another 3-2 pitch — high drama where a ball would tie the game — struck out Marte for real to end the inning!

Michael King took it from there, pitching a shutout 9th for the save. Yankees 7 Mets 6.

Earlier, Luis Severino got ripped — the Mets taking a 5-1 lead in the 3rd and all looking lost for the Yanks. And then Max Scherzer got ripped — the Yankees exploding for 5 runs in the 4th to take a 6-5 lead.

Severino could have still gotten a win, but coughed up the tying run in the 5th with 2 outs.

An old fashioned sac fly by Josh Donaldson in the 6th ended up being the game winner.

On a Beautiful, June Tuesday evening at Citifield in Queens — a PACKED stadium.

“It’s fun,” said Clay Holmes afterwards. “This is the type of moment you want to pitch in; that you dream of pitching in. It’s always a great atmosphere — Yankees-Mets — to play here. To be able to come into a big moment and help the team win, it’s fun. As a competitor that’s the kind of situation you want to be in, and I’m glad I could help us win.”

The Yankees improve to 39-29, 8 behind Tampa and 4 behind Baltimore. The Mets fall to 31-36, 9.5 behind Atlanta.

1. Giancarlo HR Starts It

The festivities were kicked off by a Giancarlo Stanton missile off Max Scherzer to left field for a 1-0 Yankee lead in the top of the 1st.

2. Severino Ripped

Luis Severino immediately coughed up the 1-0 lead — allowing a solo homer to Brandon Nimmo leading off the bottom of the 1st — a 95-MPH fastball that Nimmo clocked 429 feet to right center.

The 30-year-old, 6’3 Nimmo has achieved All Star status and signed a huge 8-year, $20.5 Million/year contract in the off season with the Mets. He is having another fine season, slashing 6-27-.286 (.378 OBP).

Severino then walked Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor, and Brett Baty grounded a 2-out single up the middle for a 2-0 Mets lead.

In the 2nd, Severino allowed a 1-out double by Mark Canha, hit Nimmo with a pitch, and then allowed a 2-out single to Jeff McNeil for 2 more runs. Mets 4 Yankees 1.

In the 3rd, Severino allowed a leadoff single to Marte and walked Baty to put 1st and 2nd nobody out. He struck out Tommy Pham and got Luis Guillorme to hit a double-play grounder to 2nd that Gleyber Torres booted for an error.

Gleyber’s 7th Error of the Season

It was Gleyber’s 7th error of the season — he leads the American League (although we had just tweeted earlier in the day that his fielding percentage was 7th coming in; he is 3rd in chances, 3rd in put outs and and 3rd in assists — adding up to 3rd in range).

Canha grounded out for a run and the Mets were up 5-1.

Severino Settled Down

When the Yanks came back to score 5 in the 4th and take a 6-5 lead, Severino was put back in position to win. He threw a 1-2-3 inning in the 4th and was looking stronger.

But in the 5th, a 1-out single to Baty and a 2-out single by Luis Guillorme tied the game 6-6 and Severino was gone. 4.2 innings, 6 runs.

Severino felt he had a good fastball all night. “At least the fastball was there today,” said Luis Severino afterwards. “I need to do a better job of putting guys away.”

3. Scherzer Ripped

But the Yanks jumped on Max Scherzer in the top of the 4th. Anthony Rizzo led off with a single, and DJ LeMahieu deposited one 396 feet to left for a 2-run homer and 5-3 game.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa then singled, and after an out, Kyle Higashioka singled to put 1st and 3rd. Anthony Volpe doubled down the line in left and it was 5-4.

Jake Bauers singled to right scoring Higgy and Volpe and the Yanks were on top 6-5 and Scherzer was done.

4. Donaldson Sac Fly Puts Yanks Up

Dominic Leone got the last outs of the 4th and pitched a shutout 5th for the Mets. The Yanks got to Josh Walker in the 6th — Billy McKinney led off with an infield single and with 1 out, Anthony Volpe hit a fly to center that Brandon Nimmo got to — but didn’t catch. It fell for a double to everyone’s confusion because it looked like he dropped the ball.

Josh Donaldson pinch hit for Jake Bauers and hit a sac fly to right for a 7-6 Yankee lead.

5. Mets’ Smith Ejected for Sticky Glove

Drew Smith came out of the bullpen to pitch the 7th for the Mets, but he was thrown out for sticky stuff on his glove before he even got to the mound!

“Drew Smith is still screaming in the dugout. Wow!” said Suzyn Waldman on the broadcast.

6. Yank Middle Relievers Do the Job

Meanwhile Ron Marinaccio got the final out of the 5th, and the first 2 outs of the 6th before allowing a single and yielding to Jimmy Cordero, who got the final out on a strikeout– manager Aaron Boone‘s penchant for switching pitchers with 2 outs in an inning.

Tommy Kahnle pitched a 1-2-3 shutout 7th.

7. Holmes Says “STOP RIGHT THERE!”

And then came the 8th. Wandy Peralta began the inning — and his magic wand was not operating. Michael Canha walked to lead off, and Brandon Nimmo reached on an infield single.

A fielder’s choice put 1st and 3rd, 1 out — and then Wandy hit Jeff McNeil with a pitch loading the bases.

In came Clay Holmes. The count went 3-2 on Francisco Lindor. Holmes struck him out swinging on a 97-MPH sinker.

Next came Starling Marte. The count went 3-2. Holmes threw an 88-MPH slider on the 8th pitch of the at bat and appeared to strike Marte out swinging — John Sterling on the radio called it a strikeout — but Marte just tipped the ball, fouling it into the dirt.

On the next pitch — 3-2, bases loaded — a ball and it’s a tie game — Holmes threw another 88-MPH slider and got Marte swinging for strike 3 for real.

8. King the Save

Michael King pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 9th — groundout, strikeout, line out — for the old ballgame.

Etcetera

This game writeup is dedicated to the memory of Phil Rizzuto and Meat Loaf.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401472021

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