New York Mets fans were finally cheering Jason Bay again on Sunday.
The Trail native played a pivotal role as the Mets downed the New York Yankees 3-2 at Citi Field.
Bay delivered a two-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Mets the win and avoid a Yankees sweep of their Subway Series.
Bay forced extra innings when he drew a two-out walk against Yankees ace relieiver Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth with the Mets trailing 2-1.
He went to third on Lucas Duda’s single and scored the tying run when Paulino punched a 1-2 delivery through the right side.
It marked Rivera’s first blown save against the Mets in 12 years.
In the bottom of the 10th the Mets loaded the bases after shortstop Ramiro Pena booted a slow grounder with two out.
That brought up Bay who faced Hector Noesi and he belted an 0-1 pitch into right-centre for the walk-off hit.
Bay went 2-for-4 in the game with one RBI and one run scored. In the three-game series, Bay batted .363, 4-for-11, with two RBIs and two runs scored.
The Mets played without Jose Reyes as the National League batting leader anxiously awaited MRI results on his injured leg. The speedy shortstop, elected by fans to start for the National League in the all-star game July 12, left Saturday’s loss after two innings with tightness in his left hamstring.
Manager Terry Collins said after the win that Reyes had the most mild form of a strain.
With files from CP