There was more paper flying around Citi Field on Wednesday night than there was at the Mets last ticker-tape parade up the Canyon of Heroes in 1986.
With 40 mph winds causing havoc with trash and baseballs, the Mets faced elements more conducive to an NFL playoff game than baseball in April.
These are the kind of nights that can test a team’s will and character; a way to see whether winning one game on a cold night means as much as the other 161. The Mets needed to show they can win these kinds of games when the weather is brutal, the game is tight and the opponent has World Series experience. They won that kind of game Wednesday night by beating the Cardinals 3-2.
The highlight that will be replayed is the relay throw from Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada that gunned down Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter trying to score the tying run in the ninth inning. But the Mets victory is really the result of a collection of key performances.
Starting pitcher Jon Niese kept pace and finally outlasted Cardinals starter Michael Wacha, who was magnificent early. Lucas Duda made his first big impact since being named the everyday starter at first base with what proved to be the game-winning home run, and a parade of relief pitchers did their jobs, capped by Kyle Farnsworth, who held on to collect his second save. The Mets grew up a bit against the defending NL champion Cardinals.
“We hung in there because we play hard,” manager Terry Collins said. “We don’t get down and worry about the conditions of the weather and everything else. They just go play.”
Nothing came easy on a night of unseasonably cold temperatures. For three innings it looked as if the Mets were going to follow a 3-0 loss on Tuesday night with another futile effort at the plate as Wacha struck out ninebatters through the first three innings. A base hit by Curtis Granderson that ended an 0-for-22 stretch and a walk drawn by Tejada served as the only base runners during that stretch.
But the Mets pushed across two runs in the fourth inning to chase Wacha and then Duda hit his fourth home run of the season in the sixth inning off reliever Seth Maness to give the Mets a 3-1 lead they would not relinquish,thanks to some quality work from the bullpen.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, a career starter who is settling into a relief role with the Mets, entered in the seventh with two out and a runner on second. He protected the Mets 3-1 lead by striking out Mark Ellis on four pitches.
Later it was Farnsworth, who came in for the ninth to protect the two-run lead. He got Shane Robinson to swing and miss on a slider for a quick strikeout. After back-to-back singles by Jon Jay and Carpenter, pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso slashed a hard liner to the wall in left center field. Jay scored easily, but Carpenter was called out at the plate after a terrific relay connection from center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis to Tejada to catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who barely got the tag on Carpenter.
“I thought for sure it was going to be a tie game,” Collins said. “But three guys did their jobs and we got an out.”
The Cardinals challenged the call that was confirmed by replay, leaving Farnsworth to protect on a one-run lead with two outs. Farnsworth needed just two pitches to get Matt Holliday to fly out to right field for his second save.
The Mets still aren’t hitting much. But they were opportunistic and resilient. That was enough to beat the cold, the blowing trash and the Cardinals.