Game #84: Mets 3, Yankees 2 (10)

Jason Bay drives in the game-winning run in the 10th inning with a single off of Hector Noesi. (NYDailyNews.com)

No Jose? No problem.

Ronny Paulino's single off Mariano Rivera tied it, and Jason Bay's bases-loaded hit in the 10th won it for the Mets, who staved off a sweep at the hands of the Yankees, 3-2.

The Good Stuff:

• It appeared all over but the cryin'. The greatest closer in the game had the Mets on the ropes, down to their final out. But Jason Bay wasn't about to cooperate, taking Mariano's 3-2 pitch to keep the Amazin's alive. Lucas Duda followed with a single to send Bay to third, and all of a sudden they had Mo sweating. A pinch-hitting Ronny Paulino was down to his final strike, but wasn't fooled by Rivera's next cutter, sending a single into right and tying the game, 2-2. Ruben Tejada's groundball got by Yankee shortstop Ramiro Pena, but Duda was trown out by Brett Gardner at home. Duda's a slow guy, but you had to send him.
• In the bottom of the 10th, Scott Hairston drew a leadoff walk. Angel Pagan then bunted him over to second (and just missed beating the throw at first). After Justin Turner was hit by the pitch, Carlos Beltran struck out. Daniel Murphy put one on the ground, but Pena once again couldn't come up with it, and the bases were loaded. The man who started it all in the 9th, Jason Bay came up with a shot at glory. He did not disappoint, lining a single into right-center to give the Mets a huge win. It was the team's second walk-off victory of the year and Jason Bay's first whipped cream pie in the face, provided by Jason Pridie.
• In addition to forcing Pena's second gaffe in the 10th, Murphy had 3 hits and the game's first RBI, a 1st-inning single that scored Carlos Beltran.
• R.A. Dickey kept the Bombers in check for 5 innings, no-hitting them for 4 and limiting them to 1 run on 2 hits, walking 2 and striking out 3. Dickey loaded the bases in the 5th, but got Curtis Granderson to harmlessly ground a 3-2 pitch to first base.

The Bad Stuff:

• The injury bug simply will not let the orange and blue be: Dickey did end up leaving after the 5th with what's described as a tight left glute. According to Sandy Alderson, he should make his next start. He just won't be able to sit down between now and then; I mean, it's not like he's Kim Kardashian or anything.

Final Analysis:
Whew! What a way to win it! We may have lost the series, but we at least took one. And off the great Rivera, no less! And Jason Bay was the hero! It was quite the week for Jason: the grand slam that ended the drought, and the RBI single to win it against the Yankees. Met fans will remember this one, that's for sure.

Reyes Watch:
They'll also remember it for Jose Reyes' left hamstring. This morning's MRI indicated that Reyes has a grade one hamstring sprain, which is apparently the "most benign" kind of sprain. The diagnosis makes Jose day-to-day, but Collins has acknowledged that Reyes will likely not play till after the All-Star Game. I don't mind that too much; it was going to be a stretch to get him out to California for this coming road trip anyway. As long as he gets healthy, it's all good.

Speaking of the All-Star Game...
Congratulations to Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran for representing the New York Mets on the National League's All-Star team. Reyes beat out Troy Tulowitzki at the last possible moment to win the starting job at shortstop, while Beltran made the team as a reserve. There weren't too many other Mets who could have made the team, maybe Dillon Gee being the only other, but it's good to see the Mets are represented by multiple players.

MM