New York Post, Tuesday, August 6, 2019
nypost.com
By HOWIE KUSSOYThe curtain had closed. Two
more games were in the books.
Thousands of fans were walking
toward the exits at Citi Field, fill-
ing the concourses with a famil-
iar tune. “Let’s go Mets! Let’s go
Mets!” bellowed in the most opti-
mistic octave of the year.
Queens was quiet an hour ear-
lier. Then came swing (J.D. Da-
vis) after swing (Michael Con-
forto) after swing (Pete Alonso),
transforming a possible loss to
the worst team in the National
League into one of the most
thrilling victories of the season.Like that, Mickey Callaway was
managing a winner.
On a Monday which began
with Jacob deGrom helping the
Mets complete a nearly 10-week
climb to reach .500, the suddenly
surging franchise became a win-
ning team for the first time since
May 2, capturing a thrilling 5-4
comeback victory — on a trio of
solo, seventh-inning homers, in-
cluding back-to-back, two-out
shots by Conforto and Alonso —
over the Marlins to sweep the
doubleheader.
“We still have a long, long way
to go, but it’s fun,” Callaway said
following the best day of his two-
season tenure. “The fans are ab-
solutely amazing out there, and
hopefully we’ll be selling out ev-
ery game for the next two
months, and do something spe-
cial.”
When the Mets dropped their
first game after the All-Star break
in Miami, they were buried 11
games under .500. Just over three
weeks later, the former laughing-
stocks were cackling with de-
light, becoming just the third
team in franchise history to reach.500 after falling at least 10 games
under, according to Elias Sports
Bureau.
After Conforto and Alonso
drilled their dramatic blasts —
giving the Mets their 11th win in
12 games, and a major league-
best 17-6 record since the All-Star
break — the supposed deadline
sellers were just 2 ¹/₂ games out
of a wild-card spot.
“I’m proud of our guys for
fighting back,” said Alonso,
whose 35th homer marked his
first in 10 games. “Getting to this
point has been really tough, but
now, anything can happen.
“I’m just really happy I could
contribute today because this
past month has been kind of
rough, but ever since Mercury
came out of retrograde, I think
I’m OK.”DeGrom (7-7) set the stage by
dominating the day session, al-
lowing two runs, and driving in a
pair, in a 6-2 win.
Conforto opened the nightcap
with a two-run single, but the
Marlins wrestled back the lead,
4-2, on Curtis Granderson’s two-
run, fifth-inning double.
Then came an inning which
electrified Queens, which made
this run feel like more than taking
advantage of a soft schedule,
which made the season feel like a
scene ripped from four years ago.
Davis’s 12th homer, off of Jeff
Brigham, opened the seventh.
Two outs followed. Then, Con-
forto destroyed a 3-2 fastball deep
into the upper deck in right field,
tying the game with his 23rd
homer of the season.
Alonso followed, returninghome from Sunday’s
mental breather batting .151
since winning the Home Run
Derby, without a home run
since July 26. Facing a full count,
the All-Star emerged with the
biggest hit of his career, lining a
homer to left field, as 29,000 and
change made every seat sound
filled.
“It was about as electric as I’ve
ever seen it here,” said Con-
forto, who starred in the 2015
World Series. “The feeling of
this hot streak, it does feel
similar [to 2015], but I
wouldn’t compare the two.
Each season is different, and has
its own stories. So, hopefully we
can find our way in the playoffs
again.”
Hope is back. Belief, too.
[email protected]BACK-TO-BACK: Pete Alonso celebrates as he crosses the plate after hitting the go-
ahead home run in the seventh inning. Michael Conforto (above) celebrates with teammates
in the dugout after hitting a solo shot in the previous at-bat. Anthony J. Causi (2)METS 6
MARLINS 2Game 1METS 5
MARLINS 4Game 2
Box / P. 36