When David Wright launched an 0-2 change-up from Mark Buehrle over the center-field wall in the sixth inning last night, it would have been appropriate to stop the game and commemorate a milestone in Mets history.
Hey, it’s not like that happens all the time at Citi Field.
The two-run blast gave Wright the 734th and 735th RBIs of his career, breaking the franchise record previously held by Darryl Strawberry. Anytime the Mets can celebrate something positive these days, you expect them to make the most of it.
Such is the state of a team battling to ward off the dark clouds of pessimism that seem to hover over it daily.
It has already been a difficult week with Jason Bay (broken ribs) and Mike Pelfrey (elbow) going on the disabled list and Jose Reyes in town to remind everyone how the franchise couldn’t afford to keep the reigning NL batting champion.
It’s enough to make manager Terry Collins a little gun shy about making any long-terms plans considering the shaky health of his club.
“You’ve been around this team longer than me,” he told a reporter. “Anything can happen on a daily basis.”
It’s why Wright’s homer couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only did it erase a 1-0 Marlins lead and provide the game-winning hit in an eventual 5-1 victory. But it gives the Mets something to pat themselves on the back about during a week that could have been … well, depressing.
Matched against Buehrle for the first time in his 12-year career, the Mets were going against the only the pitcher to have thrown multiple no-hitters and earn more than one Gold Glove. The home team didn’t mount much of a threat until Wright crushed his third home run of the season just over the shortened wall. The Mets have now taken the first two games of the three-game series.
“It means a lot under the circumstances,” Wright said of his record-breaking blast. “It’s been a while since I’ve had an RBI. It’s nice to do it in that fashion. Growing up and knowing the history of the organization, to have your name mentioned in the same breath with Straw and [Mike] Piazza and some of these guys is quite and honor. Hopefully, there’s some more to come.”
The Mets resisted the urge to immediately salute Wright as if it might create some bad karma. There was no curtain call. No flashy display on the scoreboard. No appearance by Strawberry, who was in Los Angeles but soon telephoned SNY to call Wright, “a class act.”
R.A. Dickey explained the tempered celebration by saying, “You sit on it until it’s time to celebrate. It’s a little bit easier to celebrate after a win like that.”
OK, so maybe it wasn’t like Wright got his 3,000th hit or 500th home run. But with Reyes having taken his talents to South Beach, Wright is the Mets’ lone homegrown superstar, the face of the franchise. A leader by example, his feat is a testament to what hard work and perseverance can accomplish. “That’s the guy we look to,” said catcher Josh Thole.
Wright was congratulated by fans, security personnel and the clubhouse crew while leaving the field. The Mets plan to have a more formal ceremony during their next homestand when Strawberry returns from the West Coast.
Meanwhile, Wright has no plans to rest on his laurels. At age 29, he’s in the midst of his prime and one of the hottest starts of his career, batting .364. His vision is to be celebrated not so much for RBIs, but World Series appearances. “Ultimately, I want to be remembered for winning, not necessarily the individual things,” he said.
A class act, indeed.