Mets Secure Comeback Win
Jared Young Sparks Five-Run Eighth as Mets Defeat Royals 6-2; Ewing Blasts First Homer
The New York Mets beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Sunday, with a five-run eighth inning sealing the victory. Jared Young was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to start the rally, and the Mets never looked back, according to AP News.
The win pushed New York into second place in their division. It came one day after the two teams combined for 28 runs in a wild 16-12 game, CBS News reported.
Young's Hit-by-Pitch Breaks Game Open in Eighth
With the bases loaded and the game still tight, Royals reliever Jose Cuas threw a fastball that hit Young on the right elbow. That forced in a run and started a five-run frame, according to CBS Sports. It was the kind of moment that swings a game — one pitch changing everything.
Young then scored on a wild pitch, also thrown by Cuas, to push the lead further. The Mets sent multiple batters to the plate in the inning, keeping pressure on a Royals bullpen that couldn't find the strike zone, Yahoo Sports reported.
Rookie Ewing Crushes 420-Foot Homer to Lead Off
Before the eighth-inning fireworks, rookie A.J. Ewing gave the Mets an early jolt. He hit his first career leadoff home run, a 420-foot blast off Royals opener Steven Cruz. That set the tone from the very first at-bat, according to AP News.
For Ewing, a young player still finding his footing in the big leagues, it was a landmark moment. A 420-foot shot is not a cheap homer — that ball was crushed. It gave the Mets an early lead and put Cruz in an immediate hole.
Brooks Raley Slams the Door for Mets' Save
With the lead in hand, the Mets turned to Brooks Raley to close things out. Raley saved the game, keeping the Royals off the board in the final innings, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
The two teams combined for 17 hits in the game. That's a lot of action, but far tamer than the day before. Kansas City finished with 2 runs and couldn't recover from the eighth-inning collapse. New York's bullpen held firm when it mattered most.
Mets Climb to Second Place After Back-to-Back Wins
The victory moved the Mets into second place in their division. Winning two straight against Kansas City — including the wild 16-12 slugfest Saturday — gives New York real momentum, CBS News noted.
Kansas City, meanwhile, lost control late in both games. Bullpen issues cost them Sunday's contest. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch are the kind of mistakes that haunt a team. The Royals will need to clean things up if they want to stay competitive in a tight division race, according to Post Register.
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