MLB Rankings: Greatest Hits in Week-8
Carlos Gomez | May 23 | 68 %
Did you think things couldn’t get any worse for the Nationals?
They lost the previous two nights on late hits by J.D. Davis and Juan Lagares. The next night, Gerardo Parra’s base hit staked Wander Suero to a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the eighth.
Suero worked around Dominic Smith’s leadoff double by fanning two dangerous run-producers, Todd Frazier and Pete Alonso. Nats manager Dave Martinez now faced a choice: pitch to Wilson Ramos or walk him and deal with Gomez.
On paper, it probably seemed like an easy call. Gomez came into the game hitting just .188, and although he did have a hit Ramos – a .250 batter – had two. Martinez chose to walk Ramos and face Gomez.
At that point – two on, two out, bottom of the eighth, trailing by a run – the Mets chances of winning measured just 26 percent. Suero worked the count to 1-2, but his fourth pitch – a cutter – stayed up in the strike zone. Gomez extracted the maximum penalty, lining the pitch over the center field wall for a three-run home run that moved New York in front 6-4.
When Edwin Diaz shut down Washington in the ninth, New York had a third straight win.