The New York Mets completed a comeback for the ages on Thursday night.
They were down 7-1 against the Philadelphia Phillies in the ninth inning, but battled back and turned the score around in their favor.
The game finished 8-7, and fans at Citizens Bank Park couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
It’s yet another proof that these 2022 Mets are special in many ways.
The season is still extremely young, but they know what it’s like to overcome adversity.
They lost Jacob deGrom, the best pitcher in the world, for at least the first two months with a stress reaction on his right scapula before the season started.
One of their best starters, Taijuan Walker, has alternated bad outings with stints on the injured list.
And their batters lead MLB in hits by pitches received.
A Resilient Unit
But they don’t give up, no matter the circumstances.
They often score in the ninth inning, when it matters the most.
In fact, Sarah Langs of MLB.com posted an impressive stat that shows the differences between this iteration of the Mets and recent ones.
“2020-21 Mets: two separate 5+ run ninth innings 2022. Mets thru May 5: two separate 5+ run ninth innings,” she tweeted.
2020-21 Mets: two separate 5+ run ninth innings
2022 Mets thru May 5: two separate 5+ run ninth innings
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 6, 2022
Yes, something could be said about situational hitting (performing in the ninth inning, for example), but the main explanation of that stat is that the Mets’ offense is just way better this year than 2020 or 2021.
Jeff McNeil and Francisco Lindor, two star-caliber hitters who had down seasons last year, are back to their best versions, for example.
The reinforcements brought in over the offseason, Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar, and Mark Canha, are dynamic and talented hitters who are already producing.
And there is also quality depth if the starters get injured or don’t perform.
Overall, the 2022 Mets are better equipped to deal with adversity, and it’s showing.
