MLB

Ike makes another amazing dugout catch for Mets

Ike Davis tried his best Carlton Fisk impersonation on the towering eighth-inning shot he pulverized to right in the Mets’ biggest outburst of the year. He ran toward first base hoping, trying to keep the ball fair through osmosis. When the umps signaled foul, Davis dropped to his knees in frustration, a state he displayed again after the umps upheld their conclusion after review.

But all the contortions and twists and pretzel forms were nothing compared to how Davis ended the game defensively.

Yeah, right. Another one of those “over the railing, into the dugout and, please, somebody PULLLLEEEEEZE, help” catches.

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TORRE NOT INTO METS

“That was a little more scary because that was the deep part of the dugout, I realized it as I jumped, [and thought] ‘I hope somebody catches me,’ ” Davis said of his how-the-heck? snare on Ian Desmond’s foul pop that applied the game-ending touch to the Mets’ improbable, 8-6, come-from-behind win over the Nationals at Citi Field.

There were teammates there to cushion him on his third over-the-railing catch.

“First time nobody could get to me. This time it was like seven guys there so that was cool,” Davis said.

The first catch victimized Jeff Baker of the Cubs in the first inning on April 21. Then he snared one, teammate Alex Cora cushioning the railing flip, against the Giants’ Pablo Sandoval to end the ninth Friday; it was the Giants’ last out because Rod Barajas delivered a game-ending homer in the bottom of the inning.

“He’s had a lot of practice at it,” David Wright said. “I’ve played in a few games now and I can’t remember the last time I had a play like that. It seems he has the opportunity every other night.”

Davis knows he’s had plenty of practice lately.

“Every once in a while you get chances to make a play like that. It seems like I’ve had a ton of them. Three actual catches. I had more chances to do it. I just haven’t,” Davis said.

“Obviously, it looks like he’s done it before,” said manager Jerry Manuel. “He knows right where the railing is.”

And last night he knew exactly where the foul pole was in the eighth — just to the left of what he thought would be his fourth homer. With the bases loaded against reliever Miguel Batista, Davis made his bid.

“It was fair for a while then it kind if hooked. They said it was pretty close. But it was a foul ball. They got it right,” Davis said. “I wish they didn’t. . . . I was just excited I actually hit a ball.”

Even with the Mets rolling up a season-high 16 hits, Davis went 0-for-5 (he picked up an RBI in the six-run eighth when he reached on an error). So he reminded everyone of his presence on the game’s final play.

“Offensive production, you get so many chances,” Davis said. “But defensive plays can change games.”