The New York Mets blew a two-run ninth-inning lead and allowed five runs in the top of the 12th inning, ending their season with a 7-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals in Game 5 of the World Series at Citi Field.
Matt Harvey took a four-hit shutout into the ninth, but allowed a walk and RBI double to Eric Hosmer before being lifted for Jeurys Familia. With one out and the infield in, Familia induced a groundout to third, but Hosmer scored after Lucas Duda’s throw sailed wide.
Addison Reed (0-1) allowed five runs in the 12th inning, recording just one out. He surrendered a pinch-hit go-ahead RBI single to Christian Colon, who made his postseason debut, that broke a 2-2 tie.
Daniel Murphy committed his second error in as many nights, botching a potential double-play ball and allowing Paulo Orlando to reach base. Alcides Escobar lined an RBI double that made it 4-2, and after an intentional walk, manager Terry Collins pulled Reed in favor of Bartolo Colon.
Colon then surrendered a bases-clearing double to Lorenzo Cain to left-centerfield that blew the game wide open.
Edinson Volquez allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits in six innings for the Royals, who won the World Series for the first time since 1985.
The Mets, whose championship drought continues, managed just four hits, including Curtis Granderson’s leadoff home run.
New York loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning with no one out, but were only able to score once on a Duda sac fly. Yoenis Cespedes went 0-for-3, leaving the game in the sixth inning after he fouled a pitch off his knee.
Harvey struck out nine batters and allowed five hits and two runs in eight-plus innings.
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This one is going to sting for a long, long time. I can’t fault Collins starting Harvey in the ninth because it was a damned if you do, damned if you don’t moment. I probably would have taken Harvey out after the leadoff walk.
Could Duda have made the throw to home? Could the Mets have managed more than four hits? Could the Mets have gotten a runner to second base against the Royals bullpen in Game 5? Could the Mets have played better fundamental baseball throughout? Made better plays, had timely hits? This, any many many more questions will be asked between now and next season. And guess where the Mets open up the 2016 season? Kansas City. Hope they enjoy watching the Royals get their rings.
But this isn’t the time to second guess, it’s more of a time to reflect.
There will be a lot of anger and venom spewed over the next few days, despite the most successful Mets season in decades. They did not play great baseball in the World Series. Their fundamental flaws were exposed and the Royals made them pay every single time. But this season was so much more than any Mets fan could have imagined. In March, I thought the team would sniff the playoffs. Maybe have an outside shot at the Wild Card, if they were lucky. They just played — but lost — in the World Series. They came as far as they could without winning it all.
It was a fantastic season on many levels, with a lot to look forward to in 2016 and beyond. Tonight, remember: The New York Mets went to the World Series in 2015. They exceeded expectations on almost every level. They have a good, young core of starting pitchers and a few position players to anchor their team for years to come.
It’s tough to find perspective at a time like this, but reflect on what worked, what was good and what the Mets managed to accomplish over the last seven months and a day. It was a magical ride.
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