Game 1 of DishesThe Wild Card Series with the Brewers didn’t start the way they wanted.
Starter Luis Severino gave up two runs in the first inning before allowing two more in the fourth, erasing the Mets’ 3-2 lead. It was possible that Tuesday’s game would be disappointing after Monday’s exhilarating victory in Atlanta until José Iglesias came to the plate in the fifth inning.
With two outs and runners on first and second, the veteran infielder swung the first pitch from the right-hander. Joel Payamps and lined out at first baseman Rhys Hoskins which made a nice catch in hops. Iglesias came out of the box and it was a foot race between him and Payamps to the first goal.
The 34-year-old was step-for-step with Payamps, 30, before the infielder dove headfirst and touched first base before the right-hander stepped on the bag. Tyrone Taylor, starting from second all the way, slipped to the plate to tie the game.
“I didn’t make the decision to slide,” Iglesias said of his thoughts on that play. “I had a feeling I was going to beat the pitcher out there and it was the only way. I dive with my heart there.
“It seems like every game he does something like that,” Francisco Lindor said of Iglesias. “He’s a special, special player. His last three, two at-bats in each game are very high-quality at-bats. He definitely helped us to be in this position.
Although that hit was Iglesias’ only hit on Tuesday, it was arguably his most important. Not only did it tie the game, which he credits to Taylor’s base running, but it also set up the biggest inning of the night.
Brandon Nimmo followed Iglesias’ single with one of his own to load the bases. Marc Vientosin his first playoff game, scored a two-run single to give the Mets the lead, then, after Pete Alonso was intentionally walked, J.D. Martinez hit his own two-run single to put the Mets up for good at 8-4, capping a five-run inning.
In an inning with so many pivotal moments, many Mets cite Iglesias’ infield single as the catalyst.
“That was the biggest change of the game,” Martinez said. “Hats off to Iggy. He’s still there, that’s what got us to this (round).
Impressive for a ballplayer who hadn’t played baseball again until last season before signing a minor league contract with the Mets during the offseason.
He’s only become one of the 2024 Mets’ highest-scoring and most important players. In 85 games, he hit .337 with a .381 OBP and .829 OPS, not to mention the stellar defense that he brings. So when asked if he wasn’t part of a club and had to sign a minor league deal to even have a chance, Iglesias was thoughtful but chose to look to the future.
“I don’t think the game treated me fairly, but I had this opportunity and everything that’s in the past is in the past,” Iglesias said. “I’m here today to help this great organization, to help this great team that we have. I accept it, I seize this opportunity with both hands and I am not letting go.
Iglesias will look to help the Mets clinch a spot in the NLDS with a win Wednesday night in Milwaukee.
