You just knew it was going to happen.  The New York Mets keep the Kansas City Royals at bay for 8 innings.  It looks like the World Series is headed to KC for a Game 6, with the two New York flamethrowers ready and waiting.

But then, stuff happens.

How Royals.

The Mets — who lost on Halloween night when Daniel Murphy, their NLCS hero who didn’t hit a thing in the World Series, booted an easy ground ball — saw the goblins and gremlins of Halloween return for a November 1st appearance.

Lorenzo Cain walked to lead off the 9th against Harvey, and four innings later the Royals are dancing in the middle of Citi Field.  Two things about this play.  First, I’m fine with Collins leaving Harvey in to pitch the 9th.  The Mets closer hadn’t exactly fooled the Royals this series.  I believe in trusting the heart of your ace.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.  Second, Lorenzo Cain was the revelation of this postseason for me.  Is there anything this man can’t do?  He hits, he flies around the bases, he catches anything hit his way in center field, he is patient at the plate.  Perez (the MVP) had a great World Series, but so did Cain.

In any event, the suspect Mets infield defense allows the tying run.  (Gotta love the New York tabloid headlines:  Cruel Hand Luc – after Lucas Duda’s throw to end the game “could have sailed to Staten Island” according to the Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga.)  And yes, Murphy made another error in the 12th to help seal the defeat.

So there we have it.  A very entertaining World Series where the good guys come back from devastation the year before to win it all.

Four months until spring training.

More to come…

DJB

Image by Cindy Danger Jones on Pixabay.