Moose Alert: Mets’ Ninth-Inning Magic Ruins Diamondbacks Bets

Moose Alert: Mets’ Ninth-Inning Magic Ruins Diamondbacks Bets article feature image
Credit:

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The Highlights

  • The Diamondbacks (-123) sent in closer Brad Boxberger in the ninth inning with a 3-1 lead over the Mets.
  • After Boxberger got the first two outs, two Mets (+113) reached on Arizona defensive miscues.
  • That set the stage for a pretty miserable moose — unless you bet the Mets moneyline.

When writing these "moose alert" pieces involving the New York Metropolitans, it's usually the Mets (specifically their bullpen) responsible for incinerating bettors' tickets late in games.

However, on this special Father's Day, the Mets threw their fans and bettors a bone. On the other hand, Diamondback bettors were unfortunately left with a nice piece of Grade-A moose. Here's how it all went down.

The Mets, who were searching for consecutive road wins for the first time since April 11, trailed 3-1 in the top of the ninth inning. The D-backs sent in Brad Boxberger to get the save against an offense that recently hadn't scored more than three runs in 11 straight games.

Boxberger got the first two outs, which meant Arizona moneyline bettors were an out away from sauntering to the window to claim their bread. Up stepped Jose Reyes, who owned a .158 average coming into the game. This  shouldn't take long …

With two outs, Reyes decided to bunt, which is probably his best shot of getting a hit at this point in his career. With his bunt attempt heading foul, Alex Avila inexplicably picked the ball up in fair territory, and Reyes reached. I'm not sure things can get much worse for Avila, who's now hitting .109 this season.

The Mets then sent the mighty Jose Bautista aka Joey BATTS (along with his .177 average) to the plate. Needless to say, I doubt many Arizona backers were shaking in their proverbial boots.

Bautista flew a ball to right that appeared playable for outfielder John Jay, who could end the game with an out. However, Jay didn't make the catch after mistiming his jump. Reyes scored — and the Mets now trailed by only one run. Amazin'. And, from there, the floodgates opened.

And Avila’s defense led to all of this pic.twitter.com/59Ovmiiyrj

— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) June 18, 2018

Brandon Nimmo — the "Happiest Man in Baseball" — then cracked a two-run shot to somehow give the Mets the lead (which seemed extremely unlikely just a few minutes before). He would only get happier after Asdrubal Cabrera went back-to-back, crushing a ball to right-center field to give the Mets a 5-3 lead.

And just like that, the Diamondbacks trailed by two — after two defensive miscues with two outs and nobody on. The good news? Arizona still would come to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning.

As a tortured Mets fan, I thought the Mets might still find a way to lose — especially after Avila reached on an error to start the inning. However, Robert Gsellman (one of the few pen arms I trust) successfully slammed the door, sealing the bad beat for Diamondbacks bettors.

Fortunately, anyone who had the under 9 still cashed — although not without plenty of pacing (the classic late-game stress-pacing).

But, man, I gotta say — as a Mets fan — it's nice to write this one from the other side of things. Sorry, D-backs bettors.

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