Take away Mike Baxter and the Mets could be headed to St. Louis coming off a winless homestand.
The part-time outfielder, who had the game-winning hits in the team’s lone wins on this recently completed stay in Queens, continued to be one of the few dependable Mets in yesterday’s dismal 3-2 loss to the Pirates at Citi Field. He drove in the game-tying run in the seventh inning with an opposite-field single and drew a walk in four quality at-bats.
It was a different role for Baxter, getting his ninth start of the year, as he is customarily used as a pinch-hitter. But with a dearth of production from the spare parts known as the underwhelming Mets outfield, manager Terry Collins didn’t just move Baxter into the lineup, he also let him hit against hard-throwing Pirates southpaw Justin Wilson in the seventh inning.
“Any time you get a chance to take an at-bat in a big part of the game, it’s exciting,” Baxter said. “It’s nice to know I got that opportunity.”
Baxter, a .273 hitter, rewarded Collins’ faith in him, staying in against the left-hander and softly depositing a run-scoring single into left. It was the latest highlight for the local product out of Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens. He notched walk-off singles earlier in the week against the White Sox and Pirates, two wins that separate the Mets from what could be a seven-game losing streak.
He even stole two bases, his second and third of the year, after the single yesterday, though he was stranded at third when Justin Turner struck out.
“I feel good, lately I’ve been feeling better than I did in April,” the Whitestone product said. “Obviously you’ve got to maintain it, that’s the key.”
The postgame talk in the clubhouse was what could be done about the struggling offense, which produced only four hits against the Pirates. Keeping Baxter — a patient singles hitter who works counts and puts the ball in play — in the lineup is one part of a possible solution. Ever the humble teammate, he deflected a question about whether his role should be increased. He cherishes whatever that role is — as a pinch-hitter or starter — after spending parts of seven years in the minor leagues following a productive career at Vanderbilt.
“I just try to be ready, regardless,” Baxter said.
The Mets, however, would be smart to get him as many at-bats as possible, based on his flair for the dramatic.
“I’m just trying to have good at-bats,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been seeing [the ball] decent all year. Lately I’ve caught a couple of breaks, some balls have fallen in that are beneficial. I think I’m doing a little better job than I was earlier in the year, putting the barrel on the ball I’m looking for.”