Note: Carlos Delgado is the Leader
Carlos Delgado had five hits in five at bats with three RBI.
In the ninth, with the game tied, and David Wright on second, the Braves walked Carlos Beltran to face Delgado, who slapped a line drive in to left field.
However, with several players on the Mets bench wearing inside-out rally caps, Omar Infante lost the ball in the lights, the ball bounced off of his glove, rolled in to center field. Wright rounded third and slide – head first, as though he were on a slip-n-slide – in to home plate for the win.
Delgado, regarding the win, talking to reporters last night, said:
“We’ve been able to find ways to win ballgame, and that’s something we didn’t do earlier in the year. And, good teams do that – they find a way to win those close ones…When you do that, it’s great for the atmosphere, it’s great for the ball club, it’s great for every one, every one’s feeling confident about themselves. We feel like we can do it. We don’t want to get behind, but we feel like even if we do we can come back and win it.”
For more on last night’s walk-off win, the team’s seventh of the season, check out MetsWalkoffs.com, where you’ll learn, among other interesting facts, ‘Last night was the first time that a Mets player had five hits, including a walk-off hit in the same game.’
Speaking of Delgado, read Barbara Barker, in Newsday, who explains how Delgado has clearly become the leader of his team.
Mark Teixeira will be the top free-agent first baseman this off-season, followed by players such as Kevin Millar, Richie Sexson, Jason Giambi and Sean Casey.
The Mets will have the option to retain Delgado for one more season, at the cost of $12 million. Or, they can buy out his option for $4 million. Meaning, essentially, keeping him will cost the team $8 million, since they’ll be paying the $4 million either way.
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