Game 1 of the Mets’ Wild Card Series with the Brewers was not starting off the way they wanted it.
Starter Luis Severino allowed two first-inning runs before he allowed another two runs in the fourth that erased the Mets’ 3-2 lead. It was possible Tuesday was going to be a let-down game after the exhilarating win on Monday in Atlanta until Jose Iglesias came up to the plate in the fifth inning.
With two outs and runners on first and second, the veteran infielder swung at the first pitch from right-hander Joel Payamps and lined to first baseman Rhys Hoskins who made a nifty grab on hop. Iglesias was busting it out of the box and it was a foot race between him and Payamps to first base.
The 34-year-old was stride for stride with the 30-year-old Payamps before the infielder dove headfirst and touched first base before the right-hander stepped on the bag. Tyrone Taylor, running from second all the way, slid into home plate to tie the game.
“I didn’t make the decision to slide,” Iglesias said of his thought process on that play. “I got a feel that I was going to beat the pitcher there and that was the only way. I dive with my heart right there.”
“Seems like every game he does something like that,” Francisco Lindor said of Iglesias. “He’s a special, special player. His last three, two at-bats every game are very high-quality at-bats. He’s helped us be in this position for sure.”
While that infield hit was Iglesias’ only knock on Tuesday it was arguably the biggest one. Not only did it tie the game, which he credits Taylor’s base-running for, but it set up the biggest inning of the night.
Brandon Nimmo followed Iglesias’ single with one of his own to load the bases. Mark Vientos, in his first postseason game, lined a two-run single to give the Mets the lead and then, after Pete Alonso was intentionally walked, J.D. Martinez hit a two-run single of his own to put the Mets up for good at 8-4, capping off a five-run inning.
In an inning of so many clutch moments, many Mets point to Iglesias’ infield single as the catalyst.
“That was the biggest changing point of the game,” Martinez said. “Hats off to Iggy. He’s always in there, that’s what led us to that [inning].”
Impressive for a ballplayer who was out of baseball before last season before signing a minor league deal with the Mets in the offseason.
He’s only become one of the most clutch and important players on the 2024 Mets. In 85 games, he batted .337 with a .381 OBP and a .829 OPS, not to mention the stellar defense he brings. So when he was asked about not being with a club and having to sign that minor league deal to even have a shot, Iglesias was reflective but chose to look to the future.
“I don’t think the game has treated me fair but I got this opportunity and everything’s that in the past is in the past,” Iglesias said. “I’m here today to help this great organization, to help this great team that we have. I embrace it, I’m taking this opportunity with two hands and not letting go.”
Iglesias will look to help the Mets clinch a spot in the NLDS with a win on Wednesday night back in Milwaukee.
