The Mets , but it started with Jeff McNeils leadoff drag bunt. E'Twaun Moore Jersey McNeil entered the at-bat without a hit and knowing he hadnt had much succe s in his career against Atlantas A.J. Minter. So after taking one big swing to see if I could drive something into the gap, McNeil changed his approach and bunted the next pitch past Minter, on the right side of the mound. Jeff McNeil bunts for a hit during the ninth inning of the Mets win over the Braves on May 12, 2024. USA TODAY Sports Second baseman Ozzie Albies had no chance on the play and the Mets suddenly found themselves set up to at least have a chance to tie the game. Instead, they won it, with Nimmos game-winning homer giving them a 4-3 victory at Citi Field on Sunday. Credit to McNeil, leading off the inning with the bunt, left on left, manager Carlos Mendoza said. Explore More Tomas Nido bunted McNeil to second and Brandon Nimmo, who started the game on the bench , won it with a two-run homer that ended the night and avoided an Atlanta sweep. McNeil said hed been waiting for much of the series to lay down a bunt, since he noticed that Atlanta was giving it to me. McNeil opted for his final at-bat on Sunday. I wanted to wait for the right situation to do it, McNeil said. You dont want to waste it up a few runs or down a few runs. And he added the fact he had been hitle s in his previous nine at-bats factored into the move. I havent been feeling too great at the plate, said McNeil, who also had an OPS of just .474 in 19 career at-bats against Minter. I know thats always in my back pocket when I want it so I decided to pull it out. Jeff McNeil bunts for a hit during the ninth inning of the Mets win over the Braves on May 12, 2024. USA TODAY Sports He got a fastball up and in and the comeback was on. It also helped that after Nido bunted him over, the top of the lineup was coming up. Although Starling Marte has struggled lately, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, batting third and fourth, respectively, have heated up lately and had two hits apiece on Sunday. Perhaps Nimmos dramatic homer will be the hit that gets the Mets season going in the right direction again. And if it does, McNeils bunt will have helped it along. George Hill Jersey
