Mark Vientos Walked Into the 10th Inning and the Mets' Whole Season Changed Right There

The New York Mets just won their fourth game in five tries, and they did it the hard way: extra innings in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Final score, 3-1. Mark Vientos doubled on the first pitch he saw from Kevin Ginkel (1-2) in the 10th to score the automatic runner, then Carson Benge followed with a ground-rule double to drive in Vidal Brujan, who had pinch-run for Vientos. Just like that, two runs in the 10th and the Mets walked out of Chase Field with a win that matters more than you might think.

A Team That Looked Lost Is Starting to Find Something

Coming into Friday's game, the Mets were tied with San Francisco for the worst record in baseball at 14-23. That's rough. But here's the thing: they've won their last two series and they're going for three on Saturday. When you're that far underwater early in the season, you don't get moral victories. You get wins. This one counts.

Vientos set the tone early with a 401-foot homer in the second inning, his fifth of the season. Arizona's Nolan Arenado answered immediately with his own solo shot to tie it at 1-1, and that's how it stayed until the 10th. This was a grind of a game, the kind that separates teams that quit from teams that show up.

The Pitching Held Up When It Mattered Most

Mets starter Nolan McLean went six innings, giving up one run on three hits with six strikeouts and a walk. He hit a couple of batters along the way but kept the Diamondbacks off the board after that second-inning homer. Devin Williams (2-1) threw an eight-pitch ninth for the win, and Tobias Myers struck out two of three in a clean 10th for his first save.

The D-backs have lost 12 of their last 16, and it showed down the stretch. Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte was scratched late due to illness, and the team couldn't capitalize when they loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh. That's baseball: you get your chance and you don't take it, and the other guy takes one on the first pitch.

The Mets play Saturday going for their third straight series win. This team is starting to build something.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.