Pollock's 10th-inning HR takes down Mets

Pollock's 10th-inning HR takes down Mets

August 21st, 2017

NEW YORK -- The playoff-chasing D-backs came to Citi Field on Monday looking for signs their season would start heading in the right direction again.
provided one, with a game-saving throw. A.J. Pollock provided another. His 10th-inning, two-run home run gave the D-backs a 3-2 extra-innings win over the Mets that helped them put a weekend sweep in Minnesota behind them.
Pollock, who entered the game hitting .178 in August, connected off Mets reliever , who walked pinch-hitter to start the 10th. It was a bigger hit for the D-backs, whose lead in the race for the second National League Wild Card increased to 3 1/2 games with the Brewers' loss in San Francisco.
"We're looking for something to get us going," Pollock said of the D-backs, who entered the game having lost 10 of their last 13 games. "We've got a good team. Something just wasn't clicking."
homered for the Mets to start the bottom of the 10th, but D-backs closer retired the next three batters for his 28th save. earned his first career Major League win with a perfect ninth inning.

D-backs starter kept the Mets scoreless for 5 1/3 innings and left with a 1-0 lead, but New York tied the game in the seventh on ' RBI single off D-backs reliever .

pitched well for the Mets in his second start since returning from the disabled list with a torn left hamstring, allowing one run over 6 1/3 innings. During his rehab starts with Double-A Binghamton, Gsellman started keeping his weight on his back leg to stay out in front as long as possible and keep the ball down in the zone.
"I'm very comfortable out there right now and just going out and pitching," Gsellman said.
The Mets lost for the ninth time in their last 10 meetings with the D-backs. They also dropped to 15 games under .500 for the first time since Sept. 28, 2013.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Birthday boy delivers:J.D. Martinez turned 30 Monday, so it shouldn't have been a surprise that he drove in the game's first run. In four previous games on his birthday, Martinez was 6-for-17 with four RBIs. He got his chance in the fourth inning Monday, coming to the plate after walked and moved to second on 's ground ball. Martinez grounded a Gsellman fastball into center field.

Peralta saves the day: Cespedes' single looked like it was going to drive in two and give the Mets the lead, but Peralta's throw from left field was strong and accurate to get at the plate. According to Statcast™, the throw came in at 89.6 mph, Peralta's hardest throw of the season. Catcher Chris Iannetta put the tag down on Cabrera, and the call by home-plate umpire Mike Estabrook survived a replay review requested by Mets manager Terry Collins. then popped up to Iannetta in foul ground to end the inning.
"It was a very close play," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "We felt if it was a safe call, it wouldn't have been overturned. Whatever the call on the field was, there wasn't enough evidence to change it. Fortunately, it went our way." More >

QUOTABLE
"Biggest throw of the season. That's something that can turn us around." -- Bradley, on Peralta's throw to retire Cabrera
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
With Pollock's home run, the D-backs have now homered in 12 consecutive games against the Mets, dating back to July 11, 2015.
WHAT'S NEXT
D-backs: Left-hander (10-11, 4.25 ERA), who hasn't allowed a run in 16 1/3 innings over his last two starts, takes the mound for the D-backs Tuesday night at 4:10 MST against the Mets at Citi Field. Corbin held the Astros scoreless over 8 2/3 innings in his last outing.
Mets: With scratched and likely headed to the disabled list, Tommy Milone will make his first start since landing on the disabled list on May 24. The left-hander made three starts for the Mets after they picked him up on waivers, going 0-2 with a 10.50 ERA. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
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