Like the rest of the Mets’ offense lately, Brett Baty had been struggling over his last seven games. So when manager Carlos Mendoza was asked pregame about his decision to have Baty in the lineup with Garrett Crochet, one of the tougher left-handers in the game, on the mound, the skipper said it was more about Baty’s defense.
Naturally, Baty got a hit off Crochet in just his eighth at-bat against a lefty this season in the second inning — an RBI single with a runner in scoring position after New York failed five times prior in that spot through the first two innings.
“That’s really good to see,” Mendoza said after the Mets’ 5-1 win. “Especially the at-bats against Crochet. The first one picking us up big time after second and third, nobody out and two pitches two outs there and then for him to come through there.”
But Baty wasn’t finished.
In the seventh inning, with the game tied 1-1, the 25-year-old came up to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out. Already utilizing their bullpen, the Red Sox turned to Brennan Bernardino, a left-hander, to take over for Liam Hendriks, a righty.
How did Baty respond? With a two-run opposite field single on a 2-2 pitch that broke the tie and gave the Mets their second lead of the game, one they wouldn’t relinquish this time.
“That one in the seventh, I think it was, staying in there, going the other way and coming through big time, it’s just really good to see one of your young players perform and continue to play with confidence,” Mendoza said.
“I was just on the heater, but yeah, my plan was to try to see him deep,” Baty added.
Baty finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBI and all four of his at-bats came against a left-hander. The two hits were his first off lefties this season (2-for-11, .182 average).
Despite some of his struggles this season, Baty has also had some big moments, including some big hits for a team that, despite their record in the standings, have lacked in that department.
He’s also done everything the Mets have asked of him, whether it be learn a new position, come off the bench, or go back down to the minors. Not to mention — the reason he was in the lineup on Wednesday in the first place — his defense at third base has been extraordinary.
“I’m just trying to come in and be a good player for the New York Mets and just hit the ball hard, play good defense and try to help the team win,” Baty said.
For the time being, Baty is certainly doing that.
“I think we’ve been hitting the ball hard the past couple of days, it just hasn’t been falling,” he added. “But it was huge to go back in [the dugout after the seventh inning] and have the excitement of the team and the guys and everything. We felt like we were in a good spot right there.”
As for getting the starting assignment against a tough lefty, Baty was excited and clearly ready for the challenge.
“It was awesome for sure. I always love playing,” he said.
Read the full article here