The New York Mets absolutely needed to win Game 3 of the 2015 World Series on Friday night, and they played like a team in a must-win situation.
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Despite winning the game, the Mets were trailing in Game 3 early, but they showed a lot of resilience to get the win.
Noah Syndergaard had a bit of a rough time in the first inning in the rocking atmosphere of Citi Field. Ben Zobrist has been a doubles machine in the World Series, and in the first inning he hit another one. Lorenzo Cain followed Zobrist with an infield single, and then a fielder’s choice by Eric Hosmer plated Zobrist for the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the first inning, David Wright would make Mets history with the first home run of the World Series in Citi Field, as the two-run home run gave the Mets at 2-1 lead.
That lead would not last long for the Mets, as three straight singles by the Royals would lead to their second run of the game. A sac-bunt by Yordano Ventura would move Alex Rios to third base, and then a passed ball by Travis d’Arnaud allowed Rios to score the Royals’ third run of the game.
In the third inning, Syndergaard would help himself out with a lead-off single that was followed by a two-run home run by Curtis Granderson which gave the Mets a 4-3 lead.
The Mets would get to Ventura again in the fourth inning, as Lucas Duda hit a single to start the inning, and then d’Arnaud followed with a double to advance Duda to third. An infield single by Michael Conforto scored Duda to give the Mets a 5-3 lead. Ventura would get Wilmer Flores to pop out, but it was the final batter he faced in Game 3.
Syndergaard really settled into a nice groove up until the sixth inning, as the Royals really threatened the Mets’ lead. A single and two walks allowed by Syndergaard loaded the bases for the Royals, but Syndergaard was able to get Rios to ground out to shortstop to end the inning.
In the sixth inning, the Mets would open it up against the Royals’ bullpen. Franklin Morales came in to start the inning, and after a ground out by d’Arnaud, things would unravel for the Royals.
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Juan Lagares pinch hit for Conforto as the second batter of the inning and was able to hit a single. Morales would then hit Flores with a pitch on the leg to set the Mets up with two runners on and one out. Juan Uribe would pinch hit for Syndergaard and deliver and RBI single to extend the Mets’ lead to 6-3.
After one of the most awkward plays a pitcher can make by Morales, Granderson was able to reach on a ball that should have resulted in at least one out on a ball to Morales.
The Royals would pull Morales after the awful play for Kelvin Herrera. With Wright up with the bases loaded, the Mets’ captain would have another clutch hit, as an RBI single scored Flores and Uribe. Yoenis Cespedes would round out the inning with a sac-fly for the Mets’ 9th run of the game.
The Mets’ bullpen didn’t run into any problems after Syndergaard was pinch hit for, as they pitched a clean three innings.
Game 4 will be on Saturday night, as Chris Young will be facing off against Steven Matz.