Dominic Smith’s future with the New York Mets was uncertain at the start of the year, but he has proved to be one of the team’s best bats.
A clutch pinch-hit home run and late offensive surge helped the New York Mets to a stunning 14-4 victory in Minnesota against the Twins for the team’s fourth-straight win.
Dominic Smith has been a pleasant surprise for the New York Mets in 2019. After losing the first base competition to Pete Alonso, his role with the team, and subsequently his future, were put in jeopardy.
Since then, Smith has done nothing but hit and come up in clutch situations. Wednesday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins was no different.
Dominic Smith, what did you just do?
You hit a big one, turning a 2-3 deficit into a 5-3 Mets lead in Minny against the tough Twinkies. #LGM pic.twitter.com/h8VWdWW07A
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) July 17, 2019
After falling behind 0-2, Smith didn’t panic. In fact, he didn’t even shorten up to protect the plate. Instead, he unleashed a three-run blast to give the Mets a two-run lead.
Smith has been excellent off the bench for Mets manager Mickey Callaway this season. Following his towering home run, the converted left fielder was 8-for-27 as a pinch hitter with four extra-base hits and four runs batted in.
Entering Wednesday, Smith’s OPS stood at a career-best .884. He’s hitting for power and getting on base with regularity.
Smith’s ninth home run of the season provides some vindication for Jason Vargas. The crafty veteran allowed three runs in six innings. Despite looking shaky in the first two innings, Vargas was able to settle down and give the Mets offense a chance.
The Mets bullpen has been one of the shakiest units in all of baseball this year. However, the bullpen didn’t need to do much heavy lifting on Wednesday.
The Mets took advantage of an Eddie Rosario error in the top of the eighth inning and exploded for six runs. Jeff McNeil, who doesn’t seem to stop hitting, ripped a double before big, bad Alonso stepped to the plate.
Jeff McNeil is a pure hitter. The guy just rakes. #LGM pic.twitter.com/7e8LNjOK2K
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) July 17, 2019
PETE ALONSO LAUNCHES THIS BALL TO THE MOON!!! #LGM pic.twitter.com/Jie9pUX1yj
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) July 17, 2019
Alonso’s 31st of the seasons snapped a 1-for-17 streak and might be enough to snuff out the takes about why the Home Run Derby was a bad idea for Alonso.
At 474 feet, Alonso's blast was actually the longest by a Met since Statcast began tracking in 2015.
Longest Mets HRs since that time:
1. Pete Alonso, 474 feet
2. Michael Conforto, 472 feet
3. Yoenis Cespedes, 463 feet
4. Justin Ruggiano, 461 feet
5. Alonso, 458 feet— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 17, 2019
The floodgates were opened at that point and the Twins conceded defeat in the ninth-inning by using a position player as a pitcher.
The Mets were able to sweep the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins in a short two-game set. The Metropolitans will travel to San Francisco for a four-game series with the Giants that begins on Thursday.
