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You Belong to the Citi (Yankees at Mets; 07.02.19)

Arturo Holmes/ALOST

 

akoiki-passport2 – by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief

 

NEW YORK — One would have no idea that New York Mets outfielder J.D. Davis is only a few months into his Big Apple stint given his performances while inside of his new digs. His latest standout performance at Citi Field halted the noise created by the near-incessant winning of his next door neighbors, at least for the moment.

Davis hit a solo home run to get his team on the board in the sixth before smacking a game-tying RBI double during a three-run eighth-inning rally in the Mets’ 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday evening. For a second consecutive game, the Mets came through in the eighth to turn around a deficit and earn an emotional victory after their 8-5 come-from-behind win against Atlanta on Sunday.

After Davis’ double, outfielder Michael Conforto soon followed with a two-run double with the bases loaded off Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino to give the Mets their first lead.

Davis, who came to the plate in the eighth after Pete Alonso reached on an error, drove an 0-2 pitch past a diving Aaron Hicks in centerfield to level the contest.

“I told myself to keep driving the ball. I didn’t want to shorten up my swing, [or] put a half-swing on it or just put the ball in play,” Davis said about his approach against Ottavino after falling behind 0-2. “There was no outs at that point, and if I went down swinging I was going to go down swinging.”

The Mets then swung their way into the lead. After Ottavino struck out Todd Frazier, Robinson Canó was intentionally walked and Wilson Ramos singled to left to load the bases. Conforto then drove the first pitch he saw from new pitcher Zack Britton over the head left fielder Brett Gardner for the game-winner.

The Mets then swung their way into the lead. After Ottavino struck out Todd Frazier, Robinson Canó was intentionally walked and Wilson Ramos singled to left to load the bases. Conforto then drove the first pitch he saw from new pitcher Zack Britton over the head left fielder Brett Gardner for the game-winner.

Though still a part-time player with the Mets, Davis, who was acquired this offseason from Houston, has been big-time with his play at Citi Field. His 2-for-4 performance tonight increased his batting average to .376 (32-for-85) in home games this season with five doubles, five home runs and a 1.083 OPS.

His manager, Mickey Callaway, owes that to his preparation before games and his maturity that has already allowed him to be one of the team’s emotional leaders in the clubhouse.

“He is probably the most outspoken at our hitters meetings and things like that because he’s so prepared,” Callaway said. “And it leads to success.”

The Yankees scored both of their runs in the second inning off of Mets starter Zack Wheeler, though neither came via the long ball. With runners on first and second, Gleyber Torres singled down the third base line to score Didi Gregorious to open the scoring.

Two batters later, Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton was retired on a sacrifice bunt that was intended to only advance Torres to second but, after catcher Wilson Ramos made the throw to first to retire Paxton and Wheeler failed to back up a vacated home plate, Edwin Encarnación broke from third and scored.

Tonight’s game ended the Yankees’ Major League record of hitting at least one home run in 31 consecutive games. The closest ball to leaving the yard from the bat of a Bronx Bomber came while leading off the sixth inning, when Aaron Hicks sent a deep fly ball over the head of Conforto in centerfield. Thinking the ball was gone, Hicks did not hustle out of the batter’s box and, probably, cost himself a triple as he ended up on second.

The Yankees would not score in that inning, and the bottom half saw the Mets begin their comeback with Davis’ homer.

“It’s pretty impressive,” Aaron Boone said of the home run record after the game. “We’ve got really good hitters. They all help each other with strength in numbers and typically are able to wear down a pitching staff as a group. It’s a tribute to them and how good they are as a team.”

*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Tuesday evening’s game, with all photos taken by ALOST photographer Arturo Holmes. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 30 pictures in total.

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